FRO 


THE  SENATOR  AND    "BUD"    HAINES. 


4\ 


A  GENTLEMAN 
FROM  MISSISSIPPI 


A  NOVEL 

Founded  on  the  popular  play  of  the  same  title 


PRODUCED  UNDER  THE  MANAGEMENT  OF 

WM.  A.  BRADY 

AND 

JOS.  R.  GR1SMER 


NEW  YORK 

J.  S.  OGILV1E  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

57  Rose  Street 


COPYRIGHT,  1908,  BY 
WM.  A.  BRADY  and  Jos.  B.  GRISMEB. 


COPYRIGHT,  1909,  BY  THOMAS  A.  WISK. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


THE  SENATOR  AND  BUD  HAINES,    •    Frontispiece 

"  FEOM  NEW  YOKE,  EH  ?  THE  VICKSBURG 

OF  THE  NORTH,"         ...  54 

"  STRANGE,  HOW  THE  LANGDON'S  TREAT 

HIM  AS  A  FRIEND,"  -  64 

THE   SENATOR   ACCEPTS   AN    INVITATION 

TO  TEA,      -  -          82 

THE  LANGDON  FAMILY,          -        -        -        123 

"  YOU'LL  HAVE  TO  TAKE  YOUR  MEDICINE 

LIKE  A  MAN,"  -        -  133 

11  TO-MORROW,  AT  12.30,"     -  -        142 

"  AFTER  I  HAVE  FINISHED,  I  DARE  ONE 

OF  Yoo  TO  DENY  A  WORD,"        -        172 


INTRODUCTION 

Here  is  a  story  of  an  epoch-making  battle  of  right 
against  wrong,  of  honesty  against  corruption,  of 
simplicity  and  sincerity  against  deceit,  bribery  and 
intrigue.  It  is  the  story  of  to-day  in  this  country. 
It  vitally  concerns  every  man,  woman  and  child  in 
the  United  States,  so  far-reaching  is  its  influence. 

The  warfare  is  now  going  on — the  warfare  of  hon- 
est men  against  corrupt  political  machines. 

The  story  tells  the  "inside"  of  the  political 
maneuvers  in  Washington  and  of  the  workings  of 
bosses  there  and  elsewhere — how  they  shape  men 
and  women  to  their  ends,  how  their  cunning  in- 
trigues extend  into  the  very  social  life  of  the  na- 
tion's capital.  You  will  find  inspiration  in  the 
career  of  the  honest  old  Southern  planter  elected 
to  the  United  States  Senate  and  the  young  news- 
paper reporter  who  becomes  his  private  secretary 
and  political  pilot.  Your  heart  will  beat  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  love  of  the  secretary  and  the  Sena- 
tor's youngest  daughter. 

You  will  read  of  the  lobbyists  and  find  that  not 
all  of  them  are  men.  You  will  see  how  avarice 
causes  a  daughter  to  conspire  against  her  father. 
You  will  hear  the  note  of  a  gripping  national  trag- 
edy in  the  words  of  Peabody,  the  "boss  of  the  Sen- 
ate." But  cause  for  laughter  as  well  will  not  be 
found  lacking  in  this  truly  many-sided  narrative, 


A  Gentleman  from  Mississippi 


CHAPTER   I 

PRACTICAL  POLITICS 

That  bids  him.  flout  the  law  he  makes; 
That  bids  him  make  the  law  he  flouts. 

— Kipling. 

IN  buoyant  spirit  the  Hon.  Charles  Norton  rode 
up  the  bridle  path  leading  through  the  Langdon 
plantation  to  the  old  antebellum  homestead  which, 
on  a  shaded  knoll,  overlooked  the  winding  waters 
of  the  Pearl  Eiver.  No  finer  prospect  was  to  be  had 
in  all  Mississippi  than  greeted  the  eye  from  the 
wide  southwest  porch,  where  on  warm  evenings 
the  Langdons  and  their  frequent  guests  gathered 
to  dine  or  to  watch  the  golden  splendor  of  the  dying 
sun. 

The  Langdon  family  had  long  been  a  power  in 
the  South.  Its  sons  fought  under  Andrew  Jackson 
at  New  Orleans,  under  Zachary  Taylor  in  the  war 
with  Mexico,  and  in  the  Civil  War  men  of  that  name 
left  their  blood  on  the  fields  of  Antietam,  Shiloh, 
the  Wilderness  and  Gettysburg.  But  this  family  of 
fighting  men,  of  unselfish  patriots,  had  also  marked 
influence  in  the  ways  of  peace,  as  real  patriots 
should.  Generations  of  Langdons  had  taken  deep- 
Si 


A  Gentleman  from  Mississippi 


CHAPTER   I 

PRACTICAL  POLITICS 

That  bids  him  flout  the  law  he  makes; 
That  bids  him  make  the  law  he  flouts. 

— Kipling. 

IN  buoyant  spirit  the  Hon.  Charles  Norton  rode 
up  the  bridle  path  leading  through  the  Langdon 
plantation  to  the  old  antebellum  homestead  which, 
on  a  shaded  knoll,  overlooked  the  winding  waters 
of  the  Pearl  River.  No  finer  prospect  was  to  be  had 
in  all  Mississippi  than  greeted  the  eye  from  the 
wide  southwest  porch,  where  on  warm  evenings 
the  Langdons  and.  their  frequent  guests  gathered 
to  dine  or  to  watch  the  golden  splendor  of  the  dying 
sun. 

The  Langdon  family  had  long  been  a  power  in 
the  South.  Its  sons  fought  under  Andrew  Jackson 
at  New  Orleans,  under  Zachary  Taylor  in  the  war 
with  Mexico,  and  in  the  Civil  War  men  of  that  name 
left  their  blood  on  the  fields  of  Antietam,  Shiloh, 
the  Wilderness  and  Gettysburg.  But  this  family  of 
fighting  men,  of  unselfish  patriots,  had  also  marked 
influence  in  the  ways  of  peace,  as  real  patriots 
should.  Generations  of  Langdons  had  taken  deep- 
si 


10      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

est  pride  in  developing  the  hundreds  of  acres  of 
cotton  land,  whose  thousands  of  four-foot  rows 
planted  each  April  spread  open  the  silvery  lined 
bolls  in  July  and  August,  and  the  ripened  cotton 
fiber,  pure  white  beneath  the  sun,  gave  from,  a  dis- 
tance the  picture  of  an  expanse  of  driven  snow. 

The  Hon.  Charles  Norton  had  reason  for  feeling 
well  pleased  with  the  world  as  he  fastened  his  bay 
Virginia  hunter  to  a  convenient  post  and  strode  up 
the  steps  of  the  mansion,  which  was  a  characteristic 
survivor  of  the  "old  South,'^  the  South  of  gilded 
romance  and  of  gripping  tragedy.  Now  in  this  sec- 
ond year  of  his  first  term  as  Congressman  and  a 
promising  member  of  the  younger  set  of  Southern 
lawyers,  he  had  just  taken  active  part  in  securing 
the  election  of  Colonel  William  H.  Langdon,  pres- 
ent head  of  the  family,  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
though  the  ultimate  action  of  the  Legislature  had 
been  really  brought  about  by  a  lifelong  friend  of 
Colonel  Langdon,  the  senior  Senator  from  the 
State,  James  Stevens,  who  had  not  hesitated  to  flat- 
ter Norton  and  use  him  as  a  cat's-paw.  This  use  the 
Hon.  Charles  Norton  seemed  to  consider  an  honor 
of  large  proportions.  Not  every  first-term  Congress- 
man can  hope  for  intimacy  with  a  Senator.  Norton 
believed  that  his  work  for  Langdon  would  win  him 
the  family's  gratitude  and  thus  further  his  am- 
bition to  marry  Carolina,  the  planter's  oldest  daugh- 
ter, whose  beauty  made  her  the  recipient  of  many 
attentions. 

A  complacent  gleam  shone  in  Norton's  eyes  as 
they  swept  over  the  fertile  acres  of  the  plantation. 
He  thought  of  the  material  interest  he  might  one 
day  have  in  them  if  his  suit  for  the  hand  of  Carolina 
progressed  favorably.  Suddenly  his  reverie  was  in- 
terrupted by  the  voice  of  young  Randolph  Langdon, 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      IT 

a  spirited  lad  in  his  early  twenties,  who  had  just 
been  made  plantation  manager  by  his  father. 

""Well,  how  is  the  honorable  to-day?"  said  Ran- 
dolph, approaching  from  the  doorway.  "I  didn't 
think  a  Congressman  could  be  spared  from  Wash- 
ington but  rarely,  especially  when  the  papers  say 
the  country  needs  such  a  lot  of  saving." 

"Oh,  this  'saving  the  country'  talk  goes  all  right 
in  the  story  books,"  replied  Norton,  who  exercised 
considerable  influence  over  the  youth  through  a  long 
acquaintanceship  and  by  frequently  taking  him  into 
his  confidence,  "but  this  country  can  take  pretty 
good  care  of  itself.  In  Congress  we  representatives 
put  the  job  of  saving  it  over  on  the  Senate,  and  the 
Senate  hands  back  the  job  to  us.  So  what's  every- 
body's business  isn't  anybody's;  a  fine  scheme  so 
long  as  we  have  a  President  who  keeps  his  hands 
off  and  doesn't " 

"But  how  about  the  speeches  and  the  bills?" 
broke  in  Randolph.  "I  thought " 

"Yes,  yes ;  to  be  sure,"  the  Congressman  quickly 
added.  "Nearly  all  of  us  introduce  these  so-called 
reform  bills.  When  they're  printed  at  government 
expense  we  send  copies,  carried  free  by  the  Post- 
office  Department,  to  our  constituents,  and  when  we 
allow  the  bills  to  die  in  some  committee  we  can  al- 
ways blame  the  committee.  But  if  there's  a  big 
fight  by  our  constituents  over  the  bill  we  let  it  pass 
the  House,  but  arrange  to  kill  it  in  the  Senate. 
Then  we  do  the  same  thing  for  the  Senators.  Like 
in  every  other  business,  my  boy,"  continued  Nor- 
ton as  he  led  the  way  into  the  house,  "it's  a  case  of 
'you  tickle  me  and  I'll  tickle  you'  in  politics.  And 
don't  let  any  one  fool  you  about  the  speeches,  either. 
They  are  pretty  things  to  mail  to  the  voters,  but 
all  the  wise  boys  in  Washington  know  they  aren't 


12       A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

meant  seriously.    It's  all  play  acting,  and  there 
better  actors  in  the  Senate  than  Henry  Irving  or 
Edwin  Booth  ever  were." 

"I  don't  think  my  father  looks  at  things  in  the 
way  you  do,  Charlie." 

"No?  Well,  maybe  he  doesn't  now,  but  he  will 
later  on  when  he  takes  his  seat  in  the  Senate.  If 
he  isn't  wise  enough  to  play  around  with  the  rest 
of  the  Senators  he  won't  get  any  bills  passed,  espe- 
cially any  bill  carrying  an  appropriation  or  of  any 
other  particular  importance." 

"What!"  ejaculated  the  planter's  son.  "Do  you 
mean  to  say  that  if  father  won't  do  what  the  other 
Senators  want  him  to  do  they  will  combine  against 
him  and  destroy  his  usefulness,  make  him  power- 
less— a  failure?" 

The  Congressman  smiled  patronizingly  on  the 
youth.  "Why,  of  course  they  will.  That's  politics, 
practical  politics,  the  only  kind  that's  known  in 
Washington.  You  see " 

"But  the  leaders  of  the  great  parties !"  cried  the 
young  plantation  manager,  in  amazement.  "Why 
don't  they  prevent  this?" 

"Because  they  invented  the  system  and  because 
political  party  differences  don't  amount  to  a  whole 
lot  much  of  the  time  in  Washington.  The  politi- 
cians do  most  of  their  criticizing  of  the  other  party 
away  from  Washington,  where  the  voters  can  hear 
tb£m.  But  when  circumstances  sometimes  force  a 
man  to  rise  to  assail  the  other  side  in  Congress  he 
afterward  apologizes  in  secret  for  his  words.  Or, 
sometimes  he  apologizes  beforehand,  saying:  'I've 
got  to  hand  out  some  hot  shot  to  you  fellows  just 
to  please  a  crowd  of  sovereign  voters  from  my  dis- 
trict who  have  come  up  to  Washington  to  see  me 
perform.  So^  of  course,  I've  got  to  make  a  showing; 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI       13 

Don't  mind  what  I  say.  You  know.  I  don't  mean  it, 
but  the  old  fogies  will  go  back  home  and  tell  their 
neighbors  what  a  rip-snortin'  reformer  I  be.'  " 

"Is  that  the  way  you  represent  your  district;  Nor- 
ton?" asked  Planter  Langdon,  who  at  this  juncture 
entered  the  room. 

"No,  no,  Mr.  Langdon — I  should  say  Senator 
now,  I  suppose.  I  was  merely  telling  Randolph 
how  some  legislators  conduct  themselves." 

The  Senator-elect  paused  momentarily,  gazing  at 
the  Congressman,  who,  dark-visaged,  tall,  black- 
haired,  broad-shouldered  and  athletic,  was  visibly 
uneasy  at  having  his  conversation  with  Randolph 
overheard  by  the  father. 

"No  doubt  it  won't  be  all  plain  sailing  in  Wash- 
ington for  an  old-fashioned  man  like  me,  but  I  be- 
lieve in  the  American  people  and  the  men  they  send 
to  Congress,"  slowly  spoke  the  planter.  "There's 
Senator  Stevens,  for  instance.  He  has  always  stood 
for  the  rights  of  the  people.  I've  read  all  his 
speeches.  Just  why  he  brought  about  my  election 
it  is  hard  to  tell,  for  I've  been  a  planter  all  my  life, 
except  when  I  fought  under  Beauregard.  I  feel 
that  he  did  it  out  of  friendship,  and  I  simply  can't 
say  how  much  I  appreciate  the  honor.  I  am  in- 
debted to  you,  too,  Congressman." 

Tactfully  disclaiming  any  credit  for  his  work, 
only  Norton's  congressional  training  in  repression 
enabled  him  to  refrain  from  smiling  at  Langdon's 
innocence,  his  belief  in  Stevens'  sincerity  and  his 
wonder  over  his  election.  Stevens,  the  keen,  cold 
and  resourceful,  who  forced  his  officeholders  to 
yield  him  parts  of  their  government  salaries;  Ste- 
vens, who  marketed  to  railway  companies  his  influ- 
ence with  the  Department  of  Justice;  Stevens,  who 
was  a  Republican  in  the  committee  room  in  Wash.- 


14      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

ington  and  a  Democrat  on  the  platform  in  Missis- 
sippi ;  Stevens,  who  had  consummated  the  deal  with 
Martin  Sanders,  boss  of  seven  counties,  to  elect 
Langdon  because  of  the  planter's  trustfulness  and 
simplicity  of  character,  which  should  make  him 
easy  to  influence  and  to  handle  in  the  all-important 
matter  of  the  gulf  naval  base  project! 

The  entry  of  Carolina  Langdon  and  her  younger 
sister,  Hope  Georgia,  gave  Norton  a  welcome  op- 
portunity to  shift  the  trend  of  conversation. 

"You  ladies  will  have  a  gay  time  in  Washing- 
ton," he  began,  after  directing  a  particularly  en- 
thusiastic greeting  to  Carolina.  "You  will  be  in 
great  demand  at  all  the  big  affairs,  and  I  don't 
think  you  will  ever  want  to  come  back  to  old  Mis- 
sissippi, forty  miles  from  a  railroad,  with  few 
chances  to  wear  your  New  York  gowns." 

CaroVna  spoke  quickly,  her  face  flushing  at  the 
thought  of  the  new  vista  of  life  now  opening.  "Yes, 
I  have  always  longed  to  be  a  part  of  the  real  life  of 
this  world;  the  life  of  constant  action — meeting 
new  people  every  day,  and  prominent  people.  Balls, 
receptions,  teas,  theater  parties,  afternoon  drives, 
plenty  of  money  and  plenty  of  gayety  are  what  I 
want.  I'm  not  a  bit  like  Hope  Georgia,  who  thinks 
these  ideas  are  extravagant  because  she  has  not  seen 
real  life  yet " 

"Carolina,  you  must  not  think  me  'only  your  lit- 
tle sister'  now.  I  have  seen  life.  Haven't  I  spent 
a  week  in  Jackson?" 

"That's  enough  proof.  You  know  all  about  life, 
Fm  sure,  Miss  Hope  Georgia,"  smilingly  remarked 
Norton. 

Later,  rising  to  join  Planter  Langdon  on  the  ve- 
randa, where  he  had  gone  to  smoke,  the  Congress- 
man gazed  intently  at  Carolina.  "You  will  proba- 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      15 

bly  forget  your  old  friends  when  you  enter  the  dizzy 
social  race  in  Washington." 

"No,  Charlie,  I  couldn't  forget  you,  anyhow.  You 
will  be  there,  too.  I  shall  depend  on  you  a  great 
deal  to  take  me  about,  unless  you  are  too  busy  mak- 
ing speeches  and  fighting  your  opponents." 

Again  it  was  Norton's  turn  to  be  inwardly 
amused  at  the  political  ignorance  of  the  Langdon 
family.  Speeches?  The  first-term  Congressman 
doesn't  make  speeches  in  Washington,  because  no 
one  cares  what  he  thinks — except  the  lobbyists, 
whose  business  it  is  to  provide  new  members  with 
a  complete  set  of  thoughts.  Neither  does  he  have 
opponents — he  is  not  considered  important  enough 
by  the  veterans  to  be  opposed. 

Skilfully  approaching  the  subject  which  next  to 
Carolina  Langdon  had  been  uppermost  in  his  mind 
during  his  visit,  Norton  asked  the  Senator-elect  on 
joining  him.  if  he  did  not  believe  that  the  entire 
South  would  benefit  if  the  plan  to  establish  a  naval 
base  on  the  gulf  was  successfully  carried  through. 

"Most  certainly  I  do,  and,  as  I  said  during  the 
senatorial  fight,  the  whole  country  as  well  will  be 
the  gainer,"  responded  Langdon. 

"Don't  you  think  the  people  who  want  Altacoola 
chosen  as  the  site  have  the  best  arguments?"  was 
the  visitor's  next  question,  the  reply  to  which  he 
anxiously  awaited. 

"Yes,  I  do,  from  what  I've  already  heard ;  but  I 
haven't  heard  very  much  of  what  the  folks  who  ad- 
vocate other  sites  have  to  say.  So,  until  I've  heard 
all  sides  and  made  my  own  examination,  I  couldn't 
give  any  one  my  final  answer,  but  Altacoola  seems 
to  have  the  necessary  qualifications." 

"Senator  Stevens  is  in  favor  of  Altacoola,"  eag- 
erly suggested  Norton. 


16      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 


,  and  that's  a  pretty  good  argument  in  its 
favor,"  responded  Langdon. 

Norton  now  excused  himself,  pleading  an  ap- 
pointment with  a  client  at  a  neighboring  village. 
Waving  farewell  to  Carolina  and  Hope  Georgia, 
who  stood  at  a  window,  he  rode  away.  "The  old 
man  is  sure  to  be  all  right,"  he  muttered.  "He  leans 
toward  Altacoola  and  believes  in  Stevens.  He'll 
lean  some  more  until  he  falls  over  —  into  the  trap. 
There's  a  fortune  in  sight  —  within  reach.  Langdon 
has  faith  in  his  friends.  He  won't  suspect  a  thing." 

Still  another  thought  occurred  to  the  Hon. 
Charles  Norton.  "Stevens  elected  Langdon  out  of 
friendship,"  he  chuckled,  gleefully.  "That  will  be 
•well  worth  telling  in  Washington." 


CHAPTER    II 

THE  WARS  OF  PEACE 

"BiG  BILL"  LANGDON  was  the  term  by  which  the 
new  Senator  from  Mississippi  had  been  affection- 
ately known  to  his  intimates  for  years.  He  carried 
his  230  pounds  with  ease,  bespeaking  great  muscu- 
lar power  in  spite  of  his  gray  hairs.  His  rugged 
courage,  unswerving  honesty  and  ready  belief  in 
his  friends  won  him  a  loyal  following,  some  of 
whom  frequently  repeated  what  was  known  as  "Bill 
Langdon's  Golden  Rule": 

"There  never  was  a  man  yet  who  didn't  have 
some  good  in  him,  but  most  folks  don't  know  this 
because  their  own  virtues  pop  up  and  blind  'em 
when  they  look  at  somebody  else." 

At  the  reunions  of  his  old  war  comrades  Lang- 
don  was  always  depended  on  to  describe  once  again 
how  the  Third  Mississippi  charged  at  Crawfords- 
ville  and  defeated  the  Eighth  Illinois.  But  the 
stirring  events  of  the  past  had  served  to  increase 
the  planter's  fondness  for  his  home  life  and  his 
children,  whose  mother  had  died  years  before.  At 
times  he  regretted  that  his  unexpected  political 
duties  would  take  him  away  from  the  old  planta- 
tion even  though  the  enthusiastic  approval  of  Caro- 
lina and  Hope  Georgia  proved  considerable  compen- 
sation. 

Although  not  sworn  in  as  Senator,  Colonel  Lang- 
don's political  duties  were  already  pressing.  A  few 

17 


18      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

days  after  Congressman  Norton's  visit  he  sat  in 
his  library  conferring  with  several  prominent  citi- 
zens of  his  county  regarding  a  plan  to  ask  Congress 
to  appropriate  money  to  dredge  a  portion  of  the 
channel  of  the  Pearl  Eiver,  which  would  greatly  aid 
a  large  section  of  the  State. 

During  the  deliberations  the  name  of  Martin 
Sanders  was  announced  by  Jackson,  the  Colonel's 
gravely  decorous  negro  bodyguard,  who  boasted 
that  he  "wuz  brung  up  by  Cunel  Marse  Langdon, 
suh,  a  fightin'  Mississippi  cunel,  suh,  sence  long 
befo'  de  wah  and  way  befo'  dat,  suh." 

"Show  Mr.  Sanders  right  in,"  commanded 
Colonel  Langdon. 

"Good-day,  Senator,"  spoke  Sanders,  the  boss  of 
seven  counties,  as  he  entered.  Glancing  around  the 
room,  he  continued,  bending  toward  the  Colonel  and 
muffling  his  now  whispering  voice  with  his  hand : 
"I  want  to  speak  to  you  alone.  I'm  here  on  politics." 

"That's  all  right;  but  these  gentlemen  here  are 
my  friends  and  constituents,"  was  the  reply  in  no 
uncertain  voice.  "When  I  talk  politics  they  have  a 
perfect  right  to  hear  what  I,  as  their  Senator,  say. 
Out  with  it,  Mr.  Sanders." 

As  Sanders  was  introduced  to  the  members  of  the 
conference  he  grew  red  in  the  face  and  stared  at 
Langdon,  amazed.  At  last  he  had  discovered  some- 
thing new  in  politics.  "Say,"  he  finally  blurted 
out,  "when  I  talk  business  I " 

"Are  you  in  politics  as  a  business?"  quickly  spoke 
Colonel  Langdon. 

"Why — I — er — no,  of  course  not,"  the  visitor 
stammered.  "I  am  in  politics  for  my  party's  sake, 
just  like  everybody  else,"  and  Sanders  grinned  sug- 
gestively at  his  questioner. 

"Have  you  anything  further  to  say?"  asked  Lang- 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      19 

don,  in  a  tone  hinting  that  he  would  like  to  be  rid  of 
his  caller. 

"Well,  since  you  are  so  very  new  in  this  game, 
Senator,  I'll  talk  right  out  in  meetin',  as  they  call 
it.  I  came  to  ask  about  an  appointment  an'  to  tip 
you  off  on  a  couple  o'  propositions.  I  want  Jim 
Hagley  taken  care  of — you've  heard  of  Jim — was 
clerk  o'  Fenimore  County.  A  f  2,000  a  year  job'll 
do  for  him;  $500  o'  that  he  gives  to  the  organiza- 
tion." 

"You're  the  organization,  aren't  you?"  queried 
Langdon. 

"Why,  yes.  Are  you  just  gettin'  wise?"  cried 
Sanders.  "Haven't  I  got  fellers,  voters,  VOTERS, 
VOTERS,  d — n  it,  hangin'  on  to  me  that  needs 
to  be  taken  care  of !  An'  so  I  make  the  fellers  that 
work  help  those  that  don't.  Why,  Langdon,  what'n 
h — 1  are  you  kickin'  an'  questionin'  about?  Didn't 
you  get  my  twelve  votes  in  the  Legislature?  Did 
you  have  a  chance  for  Senator  without  'em?  An- 
swer me  that,  will  you?  Why,  with  'em  you  only 
had  two  more  than  needed  to  elect,  an-'  the  opposi- 
tion crowd  was  solid  for  Wilson,"  cried  the  angry 
boss,  pounding  the  long  table  before  which  Lang- 
don sat. 

"I'll  answer  you  almighty  quick,"  retorted  the 
now  thoroughly  aroused  Senator-elect,  rising  and 
shaking  his  clenched  fist  at  Sanders.  "Those  twelve 
votes  you  say  were  yours — yours?" 

"Yes,  mine.  Them  noble  legislators  that  cast  'em 
was  an'  is  mine,  mine,  I  tell  you,  jest  like  I  had  'em 
in  my  pocket,  an'  that's  where  I  mostly  carry  'em, 
so  as  they  won't  go  strayin'  aroun'  careless  like." 

"You  didn't  have  to  vote  those  men  for  me.  I 
told  you  at  the  Capitol  that  I  would  not  make  you 


20      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

or  anybody  else  any  promises.  You  voted  them  for 
me  of  your  own  accord.  That's  my  answer." 

At  this  point  the  gentlemen  of  the  county  present 
when  Sanders  entered  and  who  had  no  desire  to 
witness  further  the  unpleasant  episode,  rose  to 
leave,  in  spite  of  the  urgent  request  of  Colonel  Lang- 
don  that  they  remain.  The  only  one  reluctant  to  go 
was  Deacon  Amos  Smallwood,  who,  coming  to  the 
plantation  to  seek  employment  for  his  son,  had  not 
been  denied  of  his  desire  to  join  the  assemblage  of 
his  neighbors. 

Last  to  move  toward  the  door,  he  stopped  in  front 
of  Sanders,  stretched  his  five  feet  three  inches  of 
stature  on  tiptoe,  and  shook  a  withered  fist  in  the 
boss'  firmly  set,  determined  face. 

"Infamous!"  shrieked  the  deacon.  "You're  a 
monster!  You're  unrighteous!  You  should  have 
belonged  to  the  political  machine  of  Cataline  or 
Pontius  Pilate !" 

"Never  heard  tell  o'  them,"  muttered  Sanders, 
deeply  puzzled.  "Guess  they  was  never  in  Missis- 
sippi in  my  time." 

His  accompanying  gesture  of  perplexity  caused 
the  deacon  to  hasten  his  exit.  Tripping  over  the  leg 
of  a  chair,  he  fell  headlong  into  the  arms  of  the 
watchful  Jackson,  who  received  the  deacon's  bless- 
ing for  "uplifting  the  righteous  in  the  hour  of  their 
fall." 

Believed  at  the  departure  of  the  witnesses,  San- 
ders showed  increased  aggressiveness.  "To  be 
sure,  Senator,  you  were  careful  not  to  personally 
promise  me  anything  for  my  support  at  the  election, 
as  you  say,"  the  leader  sneered ;  "but  you  had  Jim 
Stevens  to  make  promises  for  you,  which  was 
smooth,  absolute  an'  artistic  smooth " 

"Stop,  sir!"  Langdon  furiously  shouted.    "You 


'A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      21 

•forget,  sir,  that  your  insinuation  is  an  insult  to  a 
man  elected  Senator  from  Mississippi,  an  insult  to 
my  State  and  to  my  friend  Senator  Stevens,  who  I 
know  would  make  you  no  promises  for  me,  for  he 
had  not  my  authority." 

"Certainly  you're  a  Senator,  but  what's  a  Sena- 
tor, anyhow?  I'll  tell  you,  Mr.  Colonel  Langdon,  a 
Senator  is  a  man  who  holds  out  for  his  own  pocket 
as  much  as  us  fellows  that  make  him  will  stand  for. 
When  we  don't  get  our  rightful  share,  he's  through." 

With  a  sudden  start,  as  though  to  spring  at  San- 
ders' throat,  Langdon,  with  compressed  lips  and 
eyes  blazing,  grasped  the  edge  of  the  table  with  a 
grip  that  threatened  to  rend  the  polished  boards. 
With  intensest  effort  he  slowly  regained  control  of 
himself.  His  fury  had  actually  weakened  him.  His 
knees  shook,  and  he  sank  weakly  into  a  chair.  When 
he  finally  spoke  his  voice  wras  strained  and  labor- 
ious. "Sanders,  you  and  I,  sir,  must  never  meet 
again,  because  I  might  not  succeed  in  keeping  my 
hands  off  you.  What  would  my  old  comrades  of 
the  Third  Mississippi  say  if  they  saw  me  sitting 
here  and  you  there  with  a  whole  body,  sir,  after 
what  you  have  said?  They  would  not  believe  their 
eyes,  thank  God,  sir.  They  would  all  go  over  to 
Stuart  City  and  buy  new  glasses,  sir."  A  suspicious 
moisture  appeared  on  the  Colonel's  cheeks  which 
he  could  not  dry  too  quickly  to  escape  Sanders'  ob- 
servation. 

"But  I  had  to  let  you  stay,  sir,  because  you,  the 
sole  accuser,  are  the  only  one  who  can  tell  me  what 
I  must  know." 

"What  do  you  want  to  know?"  asked  Sanders, 
who  had  realized  his  great  mistake  in  losing  his 
temper,  in  talking  as  openly  and  as  violently  as  he 
had  and  in  dragging  the  name  of  Senator  Stevens 


32      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

into  the  controversy.  He  must  try  to  keep  Stevens 
from  hearing  of  this  day's  blunder,  for  Jim  Stevens 
knew  as  well  as  he,  didn't  he,  that  the  man  who 
loses  his  temper,  like  the  man  who  talks  too  much, 
is  of  no  use  in  politics. 

"I  want  to  know  how  you  formed  your  opinion 
of  political  matters — of  Senators.  Is  it  possible, 
sir,  that  you  have  actual  knowledge  of  actual  hap- 
penings that  give  you  the  right  to  talk  as  you  have? 
I  want  to  know  if  I  must  feel  shame,  feel  disgrace, 
sir,  to  be  a  Senator  from  Mississippi;  that  State, 
sir,  that  the  Almighty  himself,  sir,  would,  choose  to 
live  in  if  he  came  to  earth." 

"There,  there,  Senator,  don't  take  too  seriously 
what  I  have  said,"  Sanders  replied  in  reassuring 
tone,  having  outlined  his  course  of  action.  "I  lost 
my  head  because  you  wouldn't  promise  me  some- 
thing I  needed — that  appointment  for  Hagley. 
What  I  said  about  Senators  an'  such  was  all  wild 
words — nothin'  in  'em.  Why,  how  could  there  be, 
Senator?"  This  query  was  a  happy  afterthought 
which  Sanders  craftily  suggested  in  a  designedly 
artless  manner. 

"Just   what    I    thought  and  know!"  exclaimed 
Langdon,  sharply.    "It  couldn't  be;  it  isn't  possi- 
ble.   Now  you  go,  sir,  and  let  it  be  your  greatest 
disgrace  that  you  are  not  fit  to  enter  any  gentle-' 
man's  house." 

"Oh,  don't  rub  it  in  too  hard,  Senator.  You  may 
need  my  help  some  day,  but  you'll  have  to  deliver 
the  goods  beforehand." 

"I  said,  'Go!'" 

"I'm  goin',  but  here's  a  tip.  Don't  blame  me  for 
fightin'  you.  I've  got  to  fight  to  live.  I'm  a  human 
belli',  an'  humans  are  pretty  much  the  same  all  over 


the  world ;  all  except  you — you're  only  half  natural. 
The  rest  of  you  is  reformer." 

After  Sanders'  departure  the  Colonel  sat  at  his 
table,  his  head  resting  in  his  hand,  the  events  of  the 
day  crowding  his  brain  bewilderingly. 

"The  battles  of  peace  are  worse  than  any  Beaure- 
gard  ever  led  me  into,"  he  murmured.  "Fighting 
to  conquer  oneself  is  harder  than  turning  the  left 
flank  of  the  Eighth  Illinois  in  an  enfilading  fire." 

But  the  new  Senator  from  Mississippi  did  not 
know  that  for  him  the  wars  of  peace  had  only  just 
begun,  that  perhaps  his  own  flesh  and  blood  and 
that  of  the  wife  and  mother  who  had  gone  before 
would  turn  traitor  to  his  colors  in  the  very  thickest 
of  the  fray. 


CHAPTER   III 

HOW  TO  PLEASE  A  SENATOR 

THE  International  Hotel  in  Washington  was  all 
hustle  and  bustle.  Was  it  not  preparing  for  its 
first  Senator  since  1885?  No  less  a  personage  than 
the  Hon.  William  H.  Langdon  of  Mississippi,  said 
to  be  a  warm  personal  friend  of  Senator  Stevens, 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  his  party  at  the  capi- 
tal, had  engaged  a  suit  of  rooms  for  himself  and  two 
daughters. 

"Ain't  it  the  limit?"  remarked  the  chief  clerk  to 
Bud  Haines,  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Star. 
"The  Senator  wrote  us  that  he  was  coming  here 
because  his  old  friend,  the  late  Senator  Moseley, 
said  back  in  '75  that  this  was  the  best  hotel  in 
Washington  and  where  all  the  prominent  men 
ought  to  stay." 

Haines,  the  ablest  political  reporter  in  Washing- 
ton, had  come  to  the  International  to  interview 
the  new  Senator,  to  describe  for  his  paper  what 
kind  of  a  citizen  Langdon  was.  He  glanced  around 
at  the  dingy  woodwork,  the  worn  cushions,  the 
nicked  and  uneven  tiles  of  the  hotel  lobby,  and 
smiled  at  the  clerk.  "Well,  if  this  is  the  new  Sena- 
tor's idea  of  princely  luxury  he  will  fit  right  into 
the  senatorial  atmosphere."  Both  laughed  de- 
risively. "By  the  way,"  added  Haines,  "I  suppose 
you'll  raise  your  rates  now  that  you've  got  a  Sena- 
tor here." 

M 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      25 

The  clerk  brought  his  fist  down  on  the  register 
with  a  thud. 

"We  could  have  them  every  day  if  we  wanted 
them.  This  fellow,  though,  we'll  have  all  winter, 
I  guess.  His  son's  here  now.  Been  breaking  all 
records  for  drinking.  Congressman  Norton  of 
Mississippi  has  been  down  here  with  him  a  few 
times.  There  young  Langdon  is  now." 

Haines  turned  quickly,  just  in  time  to  bump  into 
a  tall,  slender  young  man,  who  was  walking  un- 
evenly in  the  direction  of  the  cafe. 

"Well,  can't  you  see  what  you're  doing?"  mut- 
tered the  tall  young  man  thickly. 

Haines  smiled.  The  chap  who  has  played  half- 
back four  years  on  his  college  eleven  and  held  the 
boxing  championship  in  his  class  is  apt  to  be  good- 
natured.  He  does  not  have  to  take  offense  easily. 
Besides,  Randolph  Langdon  was  plainly  under  the 
influence  of  whisky.  So  Haines  smiled  pleasantly 
at  the  taller  young  man. 

"Beg  your  pardon — my  fault,"  Haines  said. 

"Well,  don't  let  it  occur  again,"  mumbled  Lang- 
don, as  he  strolled  with  uneven  dignity  toward  the 
door.  Bud  Haines  laughed. 

"I  guess  young  Langdon  is  going  to  be  one  of  the 
boys,  isn't  he?" 

"He's  already  one  of  them  when  it  comes  to  a 
question  of  fluid  capacity,"  laughed  some  one  be- 
hind him,  and  Bud  whirled  to  meet  the  gaze  of  his 
friend,  Dick  Cullen,  representative  of  one  of  the 
big  Chicago  dailies. 

"You  down  here  to  see  Langdon,  too?"  com- 
mented Bud. 

Cullen  nodded.  "Queer  roost  where  this  Sena- 
tor is  to  hang  out,  isn't  it?" 

"He  can't  be  a  rich  one,  then,"  suggested  Haines. 


26      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

Cullen  chuckled. 

"Perhaps  he's  an  honest  one." 

"I  hadn't  thought  of  that  You  always  were 
original,  Dickie,"  commented  Haines,  dryly.  "By 
the  way,  what  do  you  know  about  him?" 

"Nothing,  except  that  the  Evening  Call  printed 
a  picture  of  his  eldest  daughter — says  she's  the 
queen  daughter  of  the  South,  a  famous  beauty,  rich 
planter  for  a  father,  mother  left  her  a  fortune " 

"She'll  cut  quite  a  social  caper  with  this  hotel's 
name  on  her  cards,  won't  she?"  broke  in  Haines, 
as  he  led  Cullen  to  a  seat  to  await  the  expected 
legislator,  whose  train  was  late. 

"I  don't  know  very  much  about  him  myself," 
said  Haines.  "All  I've  been  able  to  discover  is  that 
Stevens  said  the  word  which  elected  him,  and  that 
looks  bad.  Great  glory !  When  I  think  what  a  Sena- 
tor of  the  right  sort  has  a  chance  to  do  here  in 
Washington — a  nonpartisan,  straight-out-from-the- 
shoulder  man!"  He  paused  to  shake  his  head  in 
disgust.  "You  know  these  fellows  here  in  the 
Senate  don't  even  see  their  chance.  Why,  if  you 
and  I  didn't  do  any  more  to  hold  our  jobs  than 
they  do,  we'd  be  fired  by  wire  the  first  day.  They 
know  just  the  old  political  game,  that's  all." 

"Its  a  great  game,  though,  Bud,"  sighed  Cullen, 
longingly,  for,  like  many  newspaper  men,  he  had 
the  secret  feeling  that  he  was  cut  out  to  be  a  great 
politician. 

"Sure,  it's  a  great  game,  as  a  game,"  agreed 
Haines.  "So  is  bridge,  and  stud  poker,  and  three- 
card  monte,  and  flim-flam  generally.  Take  this 
new  man  Langdon,  for  instance.  Chosen  by  Ste- 
vens, he'll  probably  be  perfectly  obedient,  perfectly 
easy  going,  perfectly  blind  and — perfectly  useless. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      27 

What's  wanted  now  is  to  get  the  work  done,  not 
play  the  game." 

Thoroughly  a  cynic  through  his  years  of  ex- 
perience as  a  newspaper  man,  which  had  shown 
the  inside  workings  of  many  important  phases  of 
the  seemingly  conventional  life  of  this  complex 
world,  Cullen  pretended  unbounded  enthusiasm. 

"Hear!  hear!"  he  shouted.  "All  you  earnest 
citizens  come  vote  for  Reformer  Haines.  I'm  for 
you,  Bud.  What  do  I  get  in  your  cabinet?  I've 
joined  the  reformers,  too,  and,  like  all  of  them, 
me  for  P-U-R-I-T-Y  as  long  as  she  gives  me  a  meal 
ticket." 

But  not  even  Cullen  could  make  Haines  consider 
his  views  on  the  necessity  of  political  regeneration 
to  be  ridiculous.  His  optimism  could  not  be 
snuffed  out,  for  he  was  a  genuine  believer  that  the 
natural  tendency  of  humankind  was  to  do  right. 
Wrong  he  believed  to  be  the  outcome  of  unnatural 
causes.  This  quality,  combined  with  his  practical 
knowledge  of  the  world  and  his  courage,  made  him 
a  formidable  man,  one  who  would  one  day  accom- 
plish big  things — if  he  got  the  chance. 

"You  know  you-  can't  shut  me  up,  Dick,"  was 
his  response  to  Cullen's  oratorical  flight.  "I'm 
going  to  have  my  say.  I  don't  see  why  a  Senator 
shouldn't  be  honest.  All  I  want  them  to  do  is  to 
play  a  new  game.  Let  'em  at  least  seem  to  be 
honest,  attend  to  their  business,  forget  politics. 
The  country  sends  them  here  to  work,  and  if  they 
do  the  work  the  people  really  don't  care  a  hang 
what  party  they  belong  to." 

"Come  out  of  it,  Bud.  Your  brain  is  wabbly," 
yawned  Cullen,  wearily.  "I'll  buy  a  drink  if  you'll 
quiet  down.  Let's  be  comfortable  till  this  fellow 
Langdon  appears."  He  caught  his  friend  by  the 


28      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

arm  and  in  spite  of  protest  dragged  him  off  to  the 
cafe  just  as  young  Langdon  and  Congressman  Nor- 
ton came  down  through  the  lobby. 

Though  but  few  years  older  than  Randolph 
Langdon,  Charles  Norton  had  long  exercised  strong 
influence  over  him  because  of  his  wider  experience 
in  the  world's  affairs.  Like  his  father,  young 
Langdon  had  stayed  close  to  the  plantation  most 
of  his  life,  particularly  after  leaving  school,  devot- 
ing his  attention  to  studying  the  business  of  con- 
ducting the  family's  big  estate.  Norton  brought 
him  the  atmosphere  of  the  big  outside  wrorld  he 
yearned  to  see  even  as  did  his  sister  Carolina,  and 
he  imitated  Norton's  manners,  his  dress  and  mode 
of  speech.  The  Congressman's  habit  of  confiding 
in  Randolph,  a  subtle  compliment,  was  deeply  ap- 
preciated by  the  lad,  who  unconsciously  became  a 
continual  advertiser  of  Norton's  many  virtues  to 
Carolina  and  to  his  father,  all  of  which  the  Con- 
gressman knew. 

That  Norton's  political  career  was  the  outcome 
of  Carolina  Langdon's  ambition  to  shine  in  gay 
society  was  known  to  his  friends  as  well  as  his 
family,  and  his  desire  to  wTin  her  and  place  her 
where  she  could  satisfy  every  whim  had  developed 
almost  to  a  frenzy.  Seeing  evidences  of  Senator 
Stevens'  vast  influence,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  seek 
a  close  relationship  with  him,  and  the  Senator  was 
clever  enough  to  lead  Norton  to  consider  him  his 
friend. 

At  the  start  of  his  political  career  Norton  had 
higher  ideas  of  honor  than  guided  his  actions  now 
that  he  had  become  a  part  of  the  political  machine 
that  controlled  his  native  State  of  Mississippi,  and 
of  the  bipartisan  combination  that  dominated  both 
houses  of  Congress  in  the  interest  of  the  great  rail- 


way  and  industrial  corporations.  Senator  Stevena 
and  other  powers  had  so  distorted  Norton's  view 
of  the  difference  between  public  and  private  in- 
terests and  their  respective  rights  that  he  had  come 
to  believe  captial  to  be  the  sacred  heritage  of  the 
nation  which  must  be  protected  at  any  cost.  The 
acceptance  of  a  retainer  from  the  C.  St.  and  P. 
Kailroad  Company  for  wholly  unnecessary  services 
in  Washington — only  another  way  of  buying  a  man 
— a  transaction  arranged  by  Senator  Stevens,  was 
but  another  stage  in  the  disintegration  of  the  young 
Congressman's  character,  but  it  brought  him  just 
that  much  closer  to  the  point  where  he  could  claim 
Carolina  Langdon  as  his  own.  And  opportunity 
does  not  knock  twice  at  a  man's  door — unless  he  is 
at  the  head  of  the  machine. 

Norton,  the  persevering  young  law  student  who 
loved  the  girl  who  had  been  his  boyhood  playmate, 
was  now  Norton  who  coveted  her  father's  lands, 
who  boasted  that  he  was  on  the  "inside"  in  Wash- 
ington, who  was  on  the  way  to  fortune — if  the  new 
Senator  from  Mississippi  would  or  could  be  forced 
to  stand  in  favor  of  the  Atlacoola  naval  base. 

His  conversation  with  Eandolph  Langdon,  as 
Haines  and  Cullen  saw  them  pass  through  the 
hotel  lobby,  illustrated  the  nature  of  the  Norton  of 
the  present  and  his  interest  in  the  Altacoola 
scheme. 

"There's  no  reason  why  you-  shouldn't  come  in 
on  the  ground  floor  in  this  proposition,  Randolph," 
he  was  urging  in  continuance  of  the  conversation 
begun  over  a  table  in  the  cafe.  "No  reason  why 
you  shouldn't  do  it,  my  boy.  Why,  are  you  still  a 
child,  or  are  you  really  a  man?  You  have  now 
drafts  for  f 50,000,  haven't  you?" 

"Yeah,"  agreed  Langdon,  chagrined  at  Norton's 


SO      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

insinuation  of  youthfulness  and  anxious  to  prove 
that  he  was  really  a  man  of  affairs,  "I've  got  the 
fifty  thousand,  Charlie,  but — but,  you  see,  that's 
the  money  for  improvements  on  the  plantation.  As 
father  has  put  me  in  as  manager  I  want  to  make  a 
showing." 

"You  can't  make  it  until  spring,"  urged  Nor- 
ton. "The  money's  got  to  lie  in  the  bank  all  winter. 
Now,  why  don't  you  make  a  hundred  thousand  with 
it  instead  of  letting  it  lie  idle?  Isn't  that  simple?" 

The  younger  man's  eyes  opened  wide,  and  his 
imagination,  stimulated  by  the  special  brand  of 
Bourbon  whisky  Norton  had  ordered  for  him,  took 
rapid  bounds. 

"One  hundred  thousand!  You  mean  I  could 
make  a  hundred  thousand  with  my  fifty  between 
now  and  spring?" 

"Sure  as  a  nigger  likes  gin,"  replied  Norton, 
confidently. 

"How?"  asked  Langdon. 

The  young  Congressman  leaned  over  confiden- 
tially. 

"This  is  under  your  hat,  Randolph.  You  can 
keep  quiet?" 

Langdon  nodded  eagerly. 

"Then  put  it  into  Altacoola  land." 

"The  naval  base?"  gasped  Langdon. 

Norton  nodded. 

"Now  you've  hit  it.  The  Government  will  select 
Altacoola  for  a  naval  base.  Then  land  will  jump 
'way  up  to  never,  and  you'll  clean  up  a  hundred 
thousand  at  the  least.  Isn't  it  simple?  There  are 
a  thousand  people  with  money  who  would  just  love 
to  have  this  chance.  And  I'm  giving  it  to  you  be- 
cause of  our  friendship.  I  want  to  do  you  a  good 
turn.  I've  got  my  money  in  there." 


Young  Langdon  was  visibly  impressed. 

"You've  always — treated  me  right,  Charlie; 
you've  been  for  me,  I  know.  But  suppose  the  Gov- 
ernment doesn't  select  Altacoola.  Gulf  City's  in 
the  running." 

Norton  laughed  sarcastically. 

"Gulf  City  is  a  big  bunch  of  mud  flats.  Besides, 
I'll  tell  yon  something  else.  Just  between  us,  re- 
member." He  waited  for  the  boy's  eager  nod  be- 
fore he  went  on.  "The  big  men  are  behind  Alta- 
coola, Standard  Steel  wants  Altacoola,  and  what 
Standard  Steel  wants  from  Congress  you  can  bet 
your  bottom  dollar  Standard  Steel  gets.  They 
know  their  business  at  No.  10  Broadway.  Now, 
then,  are  you  satisfied?" 

Randolph  was  more  than  satisfied.  Already  he 
felt  himself  rich,  and  honestly  rich,  too,  for  Nor- 
ton had  convinced  him  that  there  was  no  reason 
why  he  should  not  use  the  $50,000  of  his  father's, 
when  it  had  to  lie  in  the  bank  anyhow  all  winter, 
and  he  would  have  it  back  in  time  to  use  on  the 
plantation  in  the  spring  when  it  was  needed.  How 
proud  of  him  his  father  would  be  when  he  showed 
him  a  clear  profit  of  |100,000 ! 

"I'll  go  get  the  drafts  at  once,  Charlie,  and  I'm 
mighty  much  obliged  to  you,"  he  said,  with  grati- 
tude in  his  voice. 

Norton's  smile  was  one  of  deep  satisfaction. 

"That's  all  right,  Randolph.  You  know  I  want 
to  do  anything  I  can  for  you." 

Randolph  was  starting  for  his  room  when  Haines 
and  Cullen  turned  sharply  around  the  corner  of 
the  hotel  desk.  Again  Bud  and  the  young 
Southerner  accidentally  collided. 

"Where  are  you  going?  Can't  you  look  out?" 
Jblurted  Langdon. 


32      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

Haines  grinned. 

"Guess  it's  your  fault  this  time." 

"Oh,  it  is,  is  it?"  irritably  replied  Randolph, 
•who  as  the  "young  marse"  had  been  accustomed  to 
considerable  deference  on  the  plantation.  "Well, 
take  that,"  he  angrily  cried,  aiming  a  savage  swing 
at  Haines. 

The  reporter's  athletic  training  proved  of  ready 
service.  Dodging  under  the  clenched  fist,  he  turned 
dexterously,  seized  young  Langdon's  outstretched 
wrist  and  bent  the  arm  down  over  his  (Haines') 
shoulder  as  though  to  throw  the  young  attacker 
with  the  wrestler's  "flying  mare."  Langdon  was 
helpless,  as  Haines  had  also  secured  his  free  hand, 
but  instead  of  completing  the  "throw"  the  reporter 
walked  away  with  his  foe  held  securely  on  his  back 
— to  put  him  to  bed,  a  kindly  service,  in  view  of 
Randolph's  mental  state. 

From  across  the  lobby  Charles  Norton  had 
watched  Randolph's  discomfiting  encounter  with 
Haines  with  amusement. 

"Now  that  I've  got  the  young  fellow  to  sew  up 
his  old  man's  money  in  Altacoola  land,"  he 
chuckled,  "reckon  Senator  William  H.  Langdon 
won't  see  anything  wrong  with  that  same  noble 
tract  of  universe  when  he  comes  to  vote  for  the 
naval  base.  Senator  Stevens  will  be  pleased." 


CHAPTER  IV 

"JUST  THE  MAN  WE  NEED" 

As  BUD  HAINES  returned  from  young  Langdon's 
room,  where  he  had  left  the  latter  in  bed,  with  a 
towel  filled  with  cracked  ice  around  his  head,  he 
saw  two  familiar  figures  standing  in  a  secluded  cor- 
ner of  the  lobby.  They  were  talking  earnestly  in 
a  low  voice. 

"Whew!"  whistled  the  newspaper  man.  "It 
must  be  something  important  that  brings  both  the 
boss  of  the  Senate  and  Stevens  of  Mississippi 
here." 

"Good-afternoon,  Haines.  How  are  you?"  Sena- 
tor Stevens  said,  cordially,  as,  looking  up,  he  saw 
the  newspaper  man  approaching.  "Senator  Pea- 
body,  you  know  Haines,  don't  you?  The  brightest 
young  correspondent  in  Washington." 

Senator  Peabody  of  Pennsylvania,  the  leading 
power  in  the  upper  house,  was  a  man  of  command- 
ing character  and  of  strong  personality.  The  fact 
he  used  these  attributes  to  advance  in  the  Senate 
the  financial  interests  of  himself,  of  Standard  Steel 
and  other  commercial  organizations  met  with  very 
little  protest  in  Washington.  That  he  deserved  the 
title  frequently  used  in  referring  to  him,  "boss  of 
the  Senate,"  none  would  deny  who  had  knowledge 
of  the  inner  workings  of  the  Senate  and  the  various 
committees. 

Senator  Peabody  was  very  affable  to  the  re- 

33 


34-      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

porters,  especially  to  those  of  Haines'  stamp,  who 
had  never  accepted  any  favors  from  him  and  who 
opposed  his  methods.  He  aimed  to  win  the  friend- 
ship of  these  opponents  by  diplomacy — as  he  had 
found  that  reporters  of  the  Haines  sort  could  not 
be  influenced  by  money.  He  considered  a  reporter 
who  would  take  a  bribe  as  a  constructive,  conser- 
vative member  of  society,  and  frequently  regretted 
that  so  many  of  the  correspondents  sent  to  Wash- 
ington could  not  be  bought  nor  had  bills  they 
wanted  passed  or  defeated.  He  extended  his  hand 
to  Haines  as  Stevens  concluded  and  said,  warmly: 
.  "Of  course  I  know  the  representative  of  the 
Morning  Star!  How  do  you  do,  Haines?" 

"I  wonder  if  we're  not  all  here  on  the  same  er- 
rand," suggested  the  newspaper  man. 

Senator  Peabody  appeared  to  be  all  candor. 

"We  came  to  call  on  Senator  Langdon,  Senator 
Stevens'  new  colleague,"  he  said. 

Bud  Haines  opened  his  eyes  wide.  "By  Jove! 
Langdon  stock  is  going  up  when  the  chairman  of 
the  naval  committee  drops  in  to  welcome  him." 

"You  see,  Langdon  went  in  on  a  naval  base  plat- 
form," explained  Stevens.  "Our  section  of  the 
South  is  red  hot  in  favor  of  the  Government  spend- 
ing its  naval  base  appropriation  right  there." 

"Certainly,"  interrupted  Haines,  "but 

"And,  there  being  a  vacancy  on  the  committee 
on  naval  affairs,"  continued  Stevens,  whose  dignity 
was  offended  by  the  reporter's  interruption,  "the 
friends  of  Senator  Langdon  are  working  to  have 
him  appointed  on  that  committee,  because  he  comes 
from  the  State  where  the  naval  base  will  be  lo- 
cated and  will,  like  myself,  be  more  familiar  with 
the  availability  of  the  various  sites  suggested  than 
a  man  from  another  State." 


Haines  nodded. 

"Yes,  of  course.  What  town's  going  to  get  it, 
Senator?" 

Senator  Stevens  paused  judiciously. 

"Well,"  he  said,  "Altacoola  and  Gulf  City  are 
the  chief  candidates.  I  suppose  you  had  better  talk 
to  Langdon  about  it." 

The  reporter  smiled. 

"That's  just  what  I  came  for,  Senator,  but  I 
have  to  go  up  to  the  War  Department  now.  When 
Senator  Langdon  comes  will  you  be  kind  enough  to 
tell  him  I  want  to  interview  him?" 

Stevens  bowed  cordially. 

"Indeed  I  shall.  I'll  tell  him  he's  in  luck  to  have 
the  smartest  young  man  in  Washington  on  the  job." 

"All  right,"  laughed  Bud,  "only  don't  make  it  so 
strong  that  he  won't  recognize  me  when  he  sees  me. 
Good-day."  And  he  hurried  away  to  keep  a  belated 
appointment. 

"Clever  boy,"  said  Stevens  as  the  newspaper  man 
disappeared. 

The  boss  of  the  Senate  agreed. 

"Yes,  only  I'm  not  sure  it's  a  good  thing  for  a 
newspaper  man  to  be  too  clever.  Spoils  his  useful- 
ness. Makes  him  ask  too  many  confounded  ques- 
tions." 

Stevens  acquiesced,  for  it  would  never  do  to  dis- 
agree with  the  boss. 

1  "It's  very  kind  of  you,  Senator,"  he  began,  chang- 
ing the  subject,  "to  come  with  me  to  welcome  the 
new  Senator  from  my  State,  my  old  friend  and 
colleague." 

An  inscrutable  smile — a  smile,  yet  a  cold  one — 
accompanied  Peabody's  answer. 

"I  have  always  found,  Stevens,"  he  said,  "that 
a  little  attention  like  this  to  a  new  man  is  never 


wasted,  and  I  make  it  a  rule  not  to  overlook  op- 
portunities." 

Again  the  senior  Senator  from  Mississippi  ac- 
quiesced, and  he  laughed  heartily  at  Peabody's 
keen  insight  into  human  nature. 

"I  think  you'll  like  Langdon,"  Stevens  remarked 
after  a  pause,  "and  you'll  find  him  easy  to  deal 
with.  Just  put  up  any  measure  for  the  benefit  of 
the  South  and  Langdon  will  go  the  limit  on  it. 
Even  a  Republican  majority  doesn't  mind  a  little 
Democratic  support,  you  know.  I  think  he's  just 
the  man  you  can  use  in  this  gulf  naval  base  bill." 

"You  can  swing  him?"  asked  Peabody,  sharply. 

Stevens  drew  closer  to  Peabody. 

"I  elected  him,  and  he  knows  it,"  he  chuckled. 

The  boss  nodded. 

"And  it's  likely  that  a  man  like  Langdon,  new 
to  politics — a  simple  gentleman  of  the  old  school, 
as  you  describe  him — might  have  considerable  in- 
fluence on  opinion  throughout  the  country." 

Langdon's  colleague  grasped  the  arm  of  the  sen- 
atorial dictator. 

"He's  just  the  man  we  want,  Senator.  He's  one 
of  those  old  fellows  you  just  have  to  believe  when 
he  talks.  He'll  do  what  I  suggest,  and  he  can  make 
the  public  believe  what  we  think." 

"Then  you  guarantee  him?"  snapped  the  boss. 

"Unreservedly,  Senator." 

"All  right,"  said  Peabody.  "He  goes  on  the 
naval  committee.  That  ought  to  be  enough  honor 
for  a  man  who  a  year  ago  was  growing  cotton  on  an 
old  plantation  miles  away  from  civilization." 

"We  have  control  now  of  all  the  land  about  Alta- 
coola  that  can  be  used,"  said  Stevens.  "I  have 
had  Norton,  the  Congressman  from  Langdon's  dis- 
trict, working  on  it.  There  isn't  a  foot  of  land 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      37 

there  which  we  do  not  now  control  under  options, 
and,"  he  added,  with  a  chuckle,  "the  options  were 
dirt  cheap." 

Peabody  grunted  approvingly. 

"There  won't  be  any  New  York  fortune  in  it, 
but  it  ought  to  be  a  pretty  tidy  bit,"  he  said.  "Now, 
if  we  could  only  get  Langdon  interested,  directly 
or  indirectly,  in  a  financial  way,  that  would  clinch 
everything." 

The  senior  Senator  from  Mississippi  shook  his 
head. 

"It's  too  risky.  He's  old-fashioned,  you  know — 
has  about  as  much  idea  about  practical  politics  as 
— well,  as  we  have  of  the  Golden  Rule.  Fact  is,  he 
rather  lives  by  that  antiquated  standard.  That's 
where  we  get  him.  He  owes  everything  to  me,  you 
see,  so  naturally  he'll  do  anything  I  want  him  to. 
By  the  way,  there's  Norton  now.  Perhaps  he  can 
tell  us  something." 

"Call  him  over,"  said  Peabody. 

Norton  had  been  strolling  about  the  lobby,  hop- 
ing to  be  noticed.  The  flame  had  lured  the  moth, 
and  it  liked  the  manner  of  the  singeing.  The  Con- 
gressman hurried  precipitately  across  at  Stevens' 
summons. 

"I've  been  wanting  to  speak  to  you,  gentlemen," 
said  Norton,  full  of  the  good  trick  he  had  turned, 
"but  I  didn't  like  to  interrupt  you.  I  think  I've 
done  a  big  stroke  for  Altacoola  to-day." 

Even  Peabody  pricked  up  his  ears. 

"Yes?"  said  both  Senators  together. 

With  a  keen  sense  of  the  dramatic,  the  Congress- 
man let  his  next  words  drawl  out  with  full  effect. 

"I've  got  Senator  Langdon  interested — finan- 
cially interested,"  he  said. 

His  two  hearers  exchanged  a  significant  glance. 


38      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"How?"  asked  Peabody,  sharply. 

Norton  smiled  shrewdly. 

"Well,  I  just  let  his  son  invest  $50,000  of  the 
Senator's  money  in  Altacoola  land.  That  ought  to 
help  some." 

Stevens  stared  in  amazement  at  his  Congress- 
man, his  eyes  threatening  to  bulge  out  of  his  head. 

"What !"  he  gasped.  "You  got  Langdon's  money 
in  Altacoola,  through  his  son?" 

"I  sure  have,  Senator,"  chuckled  Norton.  "He's 
in  to  the  extent  of  fifty  thousand,  and  I've  prom- 
ised that  the  fifty  shall  make  a  hundred  by  spring." 

"It'll  make  three  hundred  thousand  at  least," 
snapped  Peabody.  "Norton,  you've  done  a  good 
day's  work.  By  the  way,  a  New  York  client  of 
mine  has  a  little  business  that  I  cannot  attend 
to  handily.  Doesn't  involve  much  work,  and  a 
young,  hustling  lawyer  like  you  ought  to  take 
charge  of  it  easily.  The  fee,  I  should  say,  would 
be  about  $10,000.  Have  you  the  time  to  under- 
take it?" 

The  Congressman  drew  a  long  breath.  His  eyes 
beamed  with  gratitude. 

"I  should  say  I  have,  Senator.  Of  course,  it 
won't  interfere  with  any  of  my  duties  as  a  Congress- 
man." 

Peabody  smiled. 

"Of  course  not,  Norton.  I  see  that  your  sense 
of  humor  is  improving.  If  convenient,  run  over  to 
New  York  the  last  of  the  week.  I'll  give  you  a 
card.  My  client's  office  is  at  10  Broadway." 

The  ruler  of  the  Senate  nodded  a  curt  dismissal. 

"Thank  you,  Senator;  thank  you  very  much." 
And  Norton  bowed  and  left,  rejoicing. 

Peabody  turned  to  Stevens. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI       39 

"You  see,  even  a  Congressman  can  be  useful 
sometimes,"  remarked  Stevens,  dryly. 

"Keep  your  eye  on  that  young  man,  Stevens. 
He's  the  most  valuable  Congressman  we've  had 
from  your  State  in  a  long  while.  Does  just  what 
he  is  told  and  doesn't  ask  any  fool  questions.  This 
was  good  work.  Langdon's  on  the  naval  committee 
now  sure.  Come,  Stevens;  let's  go  to  some  quiet 
corner  in  the  smoking-room.  I  want  to  talk  to  you 
about  something  else  the  Standard  has  on  hand  for 
you  to  do." 

Hardly  had  they  departed  from  the  lobby  when 
resounding  commotion  at  the  entrance,  followed 
by  the  rushing  of  porters  and  bellboys  and -an  ex- 
pectant pose  on  the  part  of  the  clerk,  indicated  that 
the  new  Senator  from  Mississippi  had  arrived. 


CHAPTER  V 

i 

THE  BOSS  OF  THE  SENATE  INSPECTS  A  NEW  MEMBER 

AN  actor  playing  the  r61e  of  a  high  type  of 
Southern  planter  would  score  a  decided  success  by 
picturing  the  character  exactly  after  the  fashion 
of  Senator  William  H.  Langdon  as  he  strode  to  the 
desk  of  the  International  Hotel.  A  wide-brimmed 
black  hat  thrust  back  on  his  head,  a  long  black  per- 
fecto  in  his  mouth,  coattails  spreading  out  behind 
as  he  walked,  and  the  "Big  Bill"  Langdon  smile 
on  his  face  that  carried  sunshine  and  good  will 
wherever  he  went,  he  was  good  to  look  on,  an  in- 
spiration, particularly  in  Washington. 

Following  the  Senator  were  Miss  Langdon  and 
Hope  Georgia,  leading  a  retinue  of  hotel  attendants 
staggering  under  a  large  assortment  of  luggage. 
Both  beautiful  girls,  they  caused  a  sensation  all  of 
their  own.  Carolina,  a  different  type  from  the 
younger,  had  an  austere  loveliness  denoting  pride 
and  birth,  a  brunette  of  the  quality  that  has  con- 
tributed so  much  to  the  fame  of  Southern  women. 
Hope  Georgia,  more  girlish,  and  a  vivacious  blonde, 
was  the  especial  pet  of  her  father,  and  usually  suc- 
ceeded in  doing  with  him  what  she  chose. 

A  real  Senator  and  two  such  young  women  hand- 
somely gowned  seemed  to  take  the  old  hotel  back 
a  score  of  years — back  to  the  times  when  such 
sights  were  of  daily  occurrence.  The  ancient  great- 
ness of  the  now  dingy  International  lived  again. 

40 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      41 

"How  are  you,  Senator?  Glad  to  welcome  you, 
sir,"  was  the  clerk's  greeting. 

The  genial  Senator  held  out  his  hand.  Every- 
body was  his  friend. 

"Glad  to  meet  you,  sir;  glad  to  meet  you,"  he 
exclaimed.  "Must  make  you  acquainted  with  my 
daughters.  This  is  Miss  Carolina  Langdon,  this 
Miss  Hope  Georgia  Langdon." 

The  two  girls,  with  their  father's  idea  of  cour- 
tesy, shook  hands  with  the  clerk,  who  was  not  at  all 
taken  aback  by  the  unexpected  honor. 

Hope  Georgia  was  thoroughly  delighted  with 
everything,  but  Carolina  looked  at  the  worn  and 
faded  walls  and  furnishings  with  evident  distaste. 

"Oh,  this  is  Washington,"  murmured  Hope 
Georgia  ecstatically,  clasping  her  hands  and  gaz- 
ing at  a  vista  of  artificial  palms  in  a  corridor. 

"Ah,  this  is  Washington,"  sighed  the  new  Sena- 
tor contentedly,  as  he  gazed  across  a  hall  at  the  big- 
gest and  most  gorgeous  cigar  stand  he  had  ever 
seen  or  ever  hoped  to  see — the  only  new  thing 
added  to  the  hotel  since  Grant  was  President. 

"Truly  magnificent  establishment  you  have  here, 
sir;  magnificent!"  he  exclaimed  as  an  imitation 
marble  column  came  within  his  purview.  "I  re- 
member my  friend  Senator  Moseley  speaking  to  me 
of  it  thirty  years  ago.  Are  our  rooms  ready?" 

The  clerk,  hugely  pleased,  hastened  to  assure 
him  that  everything  was  in  first-class  order, 
waiting. 

"You  better  go  up,  girls,  while  I  look  around  a 
bit  and  sort  of  get  the  hang  of  things." 

"Yes,  I  think  we  had  better  look  around  a  bit, 
too,  before  we  decide,  father,"  said  Carolina,  diplo- 
matically. 

Her  father  patted  her  affectionately  on  the  arm. 


42      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"Now,  don't  you  worry,  Carolina.  I  see  you 
think  this  place  too  expensive  from  its  looks — too 
good  for  us.  But  I  tell  you  the  best,  even  this, 
isn't  too  good  for  you  girls  and  your  dad.  Kun 
away,  and  I'll  come  up  and  see  you  soon." 

The  new  Senator  leaned  his  elbow  on  the  desk, 
surveying  the  place. 

"I  understand  this  is  a  favorite  haunt  for  the 
big  men  of  Washington,"  he  said. 

The  clerk  eagerly  agreed. 

"Yes,  indeed,  Senator;  we  have  them  all.  Sena- 
tor Peabody  and  Senator  Stevens  were  here  just  a 
moment  ago.  Boy,  find  Senator  Peabody  and  Sena- 
tor Stevens  and  tell  them  Senator  Langdon  is 
here." 

The  two  Senators  came  quickly. 

"I'm  glad  to  see  you,  Langdon ;  glad  to  see  you," 
exclaimed  Stevens,  with  an  assumption  of  effusive- 
ness. "I  want  to  introduce  you  to  Senator  Pea- 
body  of  Pennsylvania." 

Peabody  bowed,  and  Langdon  held  out  his  hand. 

"I'm  delighted  to  meet  you,  Senator.  This  is  a 
proud  day  for  me,  sir." 

Peabody  had  put  on  his  smoothest  and  most 
polished  manner. 

"I  came  especially  to  meet  you,  Senator  Lang- 
don," he  said.  "Although  we  are  on  different  sides 
we  may  be  interested  in  the  same  things.  I  hope 
we  shall  see  a  great  deal  of  each  other." 

Langdon  chuckled. 

"That's  mighty  good  of  you,  Senator.  I'm  de- 
pending on  you  experienced  fellows  to  put  me 
through.  Don't  know  much  about  this  lawmaking 
business,  you  know.  Raising  cotton,  arguing  the 
Government  and  bossing  niggers  have  been  about 


'A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      43 

the  extent  of  my  occupation  for  the  last  forty  years, 
so  I  reckon  I'm  not  much  of  a  practical  lawmaker." 

"Oh,  you'll  learn;  you'll  learn  quickly,"  assured 
Peabody.  "With  Stevens,  here,  for  a  guide  you 
can't  go  wrong.  We  all  look  up  to  Stevens.  He's 
one  of  the  powers  on  your  side.  He's  an  able  man, 
is  Stevens." 

The  new  Senator  from  Mississippi  gladly  corrob- 
orated this. 

"You're  right,  sir.  A  great  man!  I  tell  you, 
when  he  told  that  Legislature  what  they  ought  to 
do,  Senator  Peabody,  they  did  it.  If  it  wasn't  for 
Stevens  I  wouldn't  be  here  now." 

In  mock  protest  the  senior  Senator  from  Missis- 
sippi raised  his  hands. 

"Now,  now,  Langdon,  don't  say  that.  Your 
worth,  your  integrity,  your  character  and  our  old 
friendship  got  you  the  senatorship." 

The  old  planter  laughed  gleefully. 

"Sure,  Stevens,  I  have  the  character  and  the  in- 
tegrity, but  I  reckon  the  character  and  integrity 
wouldn't  have  done  much  business  if  you  hadn't 
had  the  Legislature." 

Clearly  delighted,  Peabody  considered  it  certain 
that  this  new  Senator  knew  just  the  way  he  should 
go  and  would  cause  no  difficulty.  His  keen  sense 
of  gratitude  made  him  appreciate  how  he  had  been 
elected.  Peabody  literally  beamed  on  Langdon. 

"I  hope  we  shall  be  able  to  work  a  good  deal 
together,  Senator,"  he  said.  "I  have  the  interests 
of  the  South  at  heart,  particularly  with  regard  to 
this  new  naval  base.  Perhaps  we  may  be  able  to 
get  you  on  the  naval  committee." 

"Me!"  laughed  Langdon.  "Well,  that  would  be 
going  strong!  But  I  tell  you  I'm  for  the  naval 
base." 


44       A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"For  Altacoola?"  suggested  Stevens. 

Langdon  hesitated.  Peabody  and  Stevens 
watched  him  as  eagles  watch  their  prey  from  the 
mountain  crag. 

"Well,  it  looks  to  me  like  Altacoola  ought  to  be 
a  fine  site.  But  the  actual  place  isn't  so  impor- 
tant to  me.  I  tell  you,  gentlemen,"  he  said  in  im- 
pressive seriousness  that  rang  with  sturdy  Ameri- 
can manhood — "I  tell  you  that  what  is  important 
is  that  the  great,  sweeping  curve  of  the  gulf  shall 
hold  some  of  those  white  ships  of  ours  to  watch 
over  the  Indies  and  the  canal  and  to  keep  an  eye 
on  South  America. 

"And  right  there  on  our  own  Southern  coast  I 
want  these  ships  built  and  equipped  and  the  guns 
cast  and  the  men  found  to  man  them.  I  want  the 
South  to  have  her  part  in  the  nation's  defense.  I 
want  her  to  have  this  great  naval  city  as  the  living 
proof  that  there  is  again  just  one  country — the 
United  States — and  the  North  and  the  South  both 
have  forgiven." 

Senator  Peabody  clapped  the  new  member  on  the 
back.  j 

"Good!"  he  exclaimed.  "You've  got  to  make 
some  speeches  like  that.  We'll  have  you  as  the 
orator  for  the  naval  base." 

Langdon's  eyes  opened  wide. 

"Orator!"  he  gasped.    "Me!    An  orator!" 

"Why,  that  was  oratory,  good  oratory,"  ex- 
claimed Stevens,  with  enthusiasm. 

"Huh !"  grunted  the  planter.  "You  call  that  ora 
tory.  Why,  that  was  only  the  truth." 

"We'll  see  that  you  do  some  more  of  it,  then," 
laughed  Peabody.  "Remember,  we  count  on  you 
for  the  naval  base." 

"JFor   rural   simplicity   he's   perfection,"   whis- 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI       45 

pered  Peabody  to  Stevens  as  they  left  the  planter. 
"He's  a  living  picture  of  innocence.  We'll  push 
him  forward  and  let  him  do  the  talking  for  the 
naval  affairs  committee.  Hiding  behind  him,  we 
could  put  through  almost  any  kind  of  a  proposi- 
tion." 

Once  more  did  the  senior  Senator  from  Missis- 
sippi acquiesce. 


CHAPTER  VI 

NEW  FRIENDS — AND  AN  OLD  ENEMY 

LANGDON  gazed  at  the  two  departing  Senators 
with  varied  emotions.  He  sat  down  to  think  over 
what  they  had  said  and  to  carefully  consider  what 
manner  of  man  was  Peabody,  who  showed  such  an 
interest  in  him.  He  realized  that  he  would  have 
considerable  intercourse  with  Peabody  in  the  proc- 
esses of  legislation,  and  finally  had  to.  admit  to 
himself  that  he  did  not  like  the  Senator  from 
Pennsylvania.  Just  what  it  was  Langdon  could 
not  at  this  time  make  certain,  but  he  was  mystified 
by  traces  of  contradictions  in  the  Senator's  char- 
acter— slight  traces,  true,  but  traces  nevertheless. 
Peabody's  cordiality  and  sympathy  were  to  Lang- 
don's  mind  partly  genuine  and  partly  false.  Just 
what  was  the  cause  of  or  the  necessity  for  the  alloy 
in  the  true  metal  he  could  not  fathom. 

His  talk  with  these  famous  lawmakers  was  un- 
satisfactory also  in  that  it  had  conveyed  to  Lang- 
don the  suggestion  that  the  Senate  was  not  pri- 
marily a  great  forum  for  the  general  and  active 
consideration  of  weighty  measures  and  of  national 
policies.  It  had  been  his  idea  that  the  Senate  was 
primarily  such  a  forum,  but  the  attitude  of  Pea- 
body  and  Stevens  had  hinted  to  him  that  there 
were  matters  of  individual  interest  that  outweighed 
public  or  national  considerations.  For  instance, 
they  were  anxious  that  Altacoola  should  have  the 

49 


naval  base  regardless  of  the  claims  or  merits  of 
any  other  section.  That  was  unusual,  puzzling  to 
Langdon.  Moreover,  it  was  poor  business,  yet 
there  were  able  business  men  in  the  Senate.  Not 
one  of  them  would,  for  instance,  think  of  buying  a 
site  for  a  factory  until  he  had  investigated  many 
possible  locations  and  then  selected  the  most  favor- 
able one.  Why  was  it,  he  pondered,  that  the  busi- 
ness of  the  great  United  States  of  America  was  not 
conducted  on  business  lines? 

He  must  study  the  whole  question  intelligently ; 
that  was  imperative.  He  must  have  advice,  help. 
To  whom  was  he  to  go  for  it?  Stevens?  Yes,  his 
old  friend,  who  knew  all  "the  ropes."  Yet  even 
Stevens  seemed  different  in  Washington  than 
Stevens  in  Mississippi.  Here  he  played  "second 
fiddle."  He  was  even  obsequious,  Langdon  had  ob- 
served, to  Peabody.  In  Mississippi  he  was  a  leader, 
and  a  strong  one,  too.  But  Senator  Langdon  had 
not  yet  learned  of  the  many  founts  from  which  po- 
litical strength  and  political  leadership  may  be 
gained. 

What  he  finally  decided  on  was  the  engaging  of 
a  secretary,  but  he  must  be  one  with  knowledge  of 
political  operations,  one  who  combined  wisdom 
with  honesty.  Ji3uch  an  aid  could  prevent  Langdon 
from  making  the  many  mistakes  that  invariably 
mark  the  new  man  in  politics,  and  he  could  point 
out  the  most  effective  modes  of  procedure  under 
given  circumstances.  It  might  prove  difficult  to 
find  a  man  of  the  necessary  qualifications  who  was 
not  already  employed,  but  in  the  meantime  Lang- 
don would  watch  the  playing  of  the  game  himself 
and  make  his  own  deductions  as  best  he  could. 

The  Senator  started  toward  the  hotel  desk  to 
ask  regarding  the  whereabouts  of  his  son  Randolph, 


48      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

when  his  attention  was  caught  by  the  sight  of  three 
powerful  negro  porters  endeavoring  to  thrust  out- 
doors a  threadbare  old  man.  The  victim's  flowing 
white  hair,  white  mustache  and  military  bearing 
received  short  shrift. 

"Come  along,  Colonel !  Yo'  can't  sit  heah  all  day. 
Them  chairs  is  for  the  guests  in  the  hotel,"  the 
head  porter  was  urging  as  he  jerked  the  old  man 
toward  the  door. 

The  Mississippian's  fighting  blood  was  instantly 
aroused  at  such  treatment  of  a  respectable  old 
white  man  by  negroes.  His  lips  tightly  compressed 
as  he  hurried  to  the  rescue.  He  cried  sharply : 

"Take  your  hands  off  that  gentleman !  What  do 
you  mean  by  touching  a  friend  of  mine?" 

The  negroes  stepped  back  amazed. 

"  'Scuse  me,  Senator,  is  this  gent'man  a  friend 
of  yours?"  the  head  porter  gasped  apologetically. 

Langdon  looked  at  him. 

"You  heard  what  I  said,"  he  drawled  in  the  slow 
way  natural  to  some  men  of  the  South  when  trouble 
threatens.  "I'd  like  to  have  you  down  in  Missis- 
sippi for  about  ten  minutes." 

The  head  porter  turned  quickly  on  his  assistants 
and  drove  them  away,  shouting  at  the  top  of  his 
voice : 

"Get  about  yo'  wuk.  How  dare  yo'  intehfere  wid 
a  friend  of  de  Senator's?  I'll  teach  yo'  to  be 
putting  yoh  nose  in  where  it  ain't  got  no  business." 

The  old  man,  astonished  at  the  turn  of  events, 
came  forward  hesitatingly  to  Langdon. 

"I'm  very  much  obliged  to  you,  sir,"  he  said. 
"I'm  Colonel  Stoneman,  an  old  soldier." 

The  Mississippian  stretched  forth  his  hand. 

"My  name  is  Langdon,  sir — Senator  Langdon  of 
Mississippi.  I  am  an  old  soldier,  too." 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      49 

"Delighted,  Senator,"  exclaimed  the  seedy-look- 
ing old  man,  taking  the  offered  hand  gratefully. 

Langdon's  easy  method  of  making  friends  was 
well  illustrated  as  he  clapped  his  new  companion 
on  the  back.  Everybody  he  met  was  the  Mississip- 
pian's  friend  until  he  had  proved  himself  the  con- 
trary. That  had  been  his  rule  through  life. 

"Come  right  over,  Colonel;  have  a  cigar,  sir." 
Then,  as  they  lighted  their  cigars,  he  inquired, 
"What  army  corps  were  you  with,  Colonel?" 

"I  was  under  Grant  along  the  Tennessee,"  re- 
plied  the  old  G.  A.  R.  man. 

Familiarity  with  a  Senator  was  something  new 
for  him,  and  already  he  was  straightening  up  and 
becoming  more  of  a  man  every  moment.  Langdon 
was  thoroughly  interested. 

"I  was  along  the  Tennessee  under  Beauregard," 
he  said. 

"Great  generals,  sir!  Great  generals!"  ex- 
claimed Colonel  Stoneman. 

"And  great  fighting,  I  reckon!"  echoed  the  Con- 
federate. "You  remember  the  battle  of  Crawfords- 
ville?" 

The  old  Federal  smiled  with  joyous  recollection. 

"Do  I?  Well,  I  should  say  I  did!  Were  you 
there,  Senator?" 

"Was  I  there?  Why,  I  remember  every  shot  that 
was  fired.  I  was  under  Kirby,  who  turned  your 
left  wing." 

The  attitude  of  the  Northern  soldier  changed  in- 
stantly. He  drew  himself  up  with  cold  dignity. 
Plainly  he  felt  that  he  had  the  honor  of  his  army 
to  sustain. 

"Our  left  wing  was  never  turned,  sir!"  he  ex- 
claimed with  dignity. 

Langdon  stared  at  him  with  amazement.    This 


60      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

was  a  poiBt  of  view  the  Confederate  had  never 
heard  befora 

"Never  turned !"  he  gasped.  "Don't  tell  me  that ! 
I  was  there,  and,  besides,  I've  fought  this  battle 
on  an  average  of  twice  a  week  ever  since  '65  down 
in  Mississippi,  and  in  all  these  years  I  never  heard 
such  a  foolish  statement." 

"What  rank  were  you,  sir?"  asked  the  Union  sol- 
dier, haughtily. 

"I  was  a  captain  that  morning,"  confessed  the 
Southerner. 

His  old  enemy  smiled  with  superiority. 

"As  a  colonel  I've  probably  got  more  accurate 
information,"  he  said. 

"I  was  a  colonel  that  evening,"  came  the  dry 
retort 

"But  in  an  inferior  army.  We  licked  you,  sir !" 
cried  Stoneman,  hotly. 

The  Mississippian  drew  himself  up  with  all  the 
dignity  common  to  the  old  Confederate  soldier  ex- 
plaining the  war. 

"The  South  was  never  whipped,  sir.  We  honor- 
ably surrendered,  sir.  We  surrendered  to  save  the 
country,  sir,  but  we  were  never  whipped." 

"Did  you  not  run  at  Kenyon  Hill?"  taunted 
Stoneman. 

Langdon  brought  down  his  fist  in  the  palm  of  the 
other  hand  violently. 

"Yes,  sir ;  we  ran  at  you.  I  ought  to  remember. 
I  got  my  wound  there.  You  remember  that  long 

lane "  He  pulled  off  his  hat  and  threw  it  on 

the  floor,  indicating  it  with  one  hand — "Here  was 
the  Second  Alabama." 

The  hat  of  the  old  Federal  dropped  on  the  floor 
opposite  the  hat  of  the  Confederate. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      51 

"And  here  the  Eighth.  Illinois,"  exclaimed  Stone- 
man. 

Langdon  excitedly  seized  a  diminutive  bellboy 
passing  by  and  planted  him  alongside  his  hat. 

"Stay  there  a  moment,  sonny,"  he  cried.  "You 
are  the  Fourth  Virginia." 

The  newspaper  Stoneman  was  carrying  came 
down  opposite  the  startled  bellboy,  who  was  trying 
not  to  appear  frightened. 

"This  is  the  clump  of  cedars,"  he  exclaimed. 

Both,  in  their  eagerness,  were  bending  down  over 
their  improvised  battle  plan,  their  heads  close  to- 
gether. 

"And  here  a  farmhouse  beside  your  cedars,"  cried 
Langdon. 

"That's  where  the  rebels  charged  us,"  echoed  the 
Union  man. 

Langdon  brought  down  his  fist  again  with  em- 
phatic gesture. 

"You  bet  we  charged  you!  The  Third  Missis- 
sippi charged  you !  I  charged  you,  sir !" 

Stoneman  nodded. 

"I  remember  a  young  fool  of  a  Johnnie  reb  dash- 
ing up  the  hill  fifty  yards  ahead  of  his  men,  wav- 
ing his  sword  and  yelling  like  a  wild  Indian." 

The  Southerner  straightened  up. 

"Well,  where  in  thunderation  would  you  expect 
me  to  be,  sir?"  he  exclaimed.  "Behind  them?  I 
got  my  wound  there.  Laid  me  up  for  three  months ; 
like  to  have  killed  me." 

Then  a  new  idea  struck  him.  "Why,  Colonel, 
it  must  have  been  a  bullet  from  one  of  your  men 
— from  your  regiment,  sir!" 

The  old  Northerner  pushed  his  fingers  through 
his  hair  and  shook  his  head  apologetically. 

"Why,  Senator,  I'm  afraid  it  was,"  he  hesitated. 


5£      A'  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

Langdon's  eyes  were  big  with  the  afterglow  of  a 
fighter  discussing  the  mighty  struggles  of  the  past, 
those  most  precious  of  all  the  jewels  in  the  treasure 
store  of  a  soldier's  memory. 

"Why,  it  might  have  been  a  bullet  fired  by  you, 
sir,"  he  cried.  "It  might  be  that  you  were  the  man 
who  almost  killed  me.  Why,  confound  you,  sir, 
ft'm  glad  to  meet  you !" 

Each  old  veteran  of  tragic  days  gone  by  had 
quite  unconsciously  awakened  a  responsive  chord 
in  the  heart  of  the  other.  A  Senator  and  a  pen- 
niless old  "down  and  outer"  are  very  much  the 
same  in  the  human  scale  that  takes  note  of  the  in- 
side and  not  the  outside  of  a  man.  And  they  fell 
into  each  other's  arms  then  and  there,  for  what 
strong  fighter  does  not  respect  another  of  his  kind  ? 

There  they  stood,  arms  around  each  other,  clap- 
ping each  other  on  the  back,  actually  chortling  in 
the  pure  ecstasy  of  comradeship,  now  serious,  again 
laughing,  when  on  the  scene  appeared  Bud  Haines, 
the  correspondent,  who  had  returned  to  interview 
the  new  Senator  from  Mississippi. 

"Great  heavens !"  ejaculated  the  newspaper  man. 
"A  Senator,  a  United  States  Senator,  hugging  a 
broken-down  old  'has-been!'  What  is  the  world 
coming  to?"  Haines  suddenly  paused.  "I  wonder 
if  it  can  be  a  pose — merely  for  effect.  It's  getting 
harder  every  day  to  tell  what's  genuine  and  what 
isn't  in  this  town." 


CHAPTER  VII 

LANGDON  LEARNS  OF  THINGS  UNPLEASANT 

HAINES  quickly  walked  over  and  touched  the 
Southerner  on  the  arm. 

"Well,  my  boy,  what  can  I  do  for  you?"  asked 
the  new  Senator,  turning  with  a  pleasant  smile. 

"My  name  is  Haines.  Senator  Stevens  was  to 
speak  to  you  about  me.  I'm  the  first  of  the  news- 
paper correspondents  come  to  interview  you." 

Langdon's  familiar  smile  broadened. 

"Well,  you  don't  look  as  though  you'd  bite. 
Keckon  I  can  stand  for  it.  Is  it  very  painful?" 

"I  hope  it  won't  be,  Senator,"  Haines  said,  feel- 
ing instinctively  that  he  was  going  to  like  this  big, 
hearty  citizen. 

"All  right,  Mr.  Haines,  just  as  soon  as  I've  said 
good-by  to  my  old  friend,  Colonel  Stoneman,  I'll 
be  with  you." 

And  to  his  continued  amazement  Haines  saw  the 
Senator  walk  away  with  the  old  Union  Colonel, 
slap  him  on  the  back,  cheer  him  up  and  finally 
bid  him  good-by  after  extending  a  cordial  invita- 
tion to  come  around  to  dinner,  meet  his  daughters 
and  talk  over  old  times. 

The  antiquated  Federal  soldier  marched  away 
more  erect,  more  brisk,  than  in  years,  completely 
restored  to  favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  hotel  people. 
Langdon  turned  to  the  reporter. 

"All  right,  Mr.  Haines;  my  hands  are  up.  Do 

53 


54      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

TOOT  worst.  Senator  Stereos  spoke  to  me  about 
TOO;  said  TOO  were  the  smartest  young  newspaper 
man  in  Washington.  Ton  must  come  from  the 
Sooth." 

Bod  shook  his  head. 

"No,  jost  New  York,"  he  said. 

"Well,  that's  a  promising  town,"  drawled  the 
Sootheroer.  "They  tell  me  that's  the  Vicksborg  of 
the  North." 

"I  suppose  you  haven't  been  to  New  York  of  late, 
Senator?"  suggested  the  newspaper  man. 

"Well,  I  started  up  there  with  General  Lee 
once,"  responded  Langdon  reminiscentiy,  "but  we 
changed  our  minds  and  came  back.  You  may  have 
heard  about  that  trip." 

Haines  admitted  that  he  had. 

"Since  that  time,"  went  on  Langdon,  "Fve  con- 
fined my  travels  to  New  Orleans  and  Vicksborg. 
Ever  been  in  New  Orleans  about  Mardi  Gras  time, 
Mr.  Haines?" 

"Sorry,  but  I  don't  believe  I  have,"  confessed 
the  reporter  reluctantly. 

The  Senator  seemed  surprised. 

"Well,  sir,  you  have  something  to  live  for.  Ill 
make  it  my  special  business  to  personally  conduct 
you  through  one  Mardi  Gras,  with  a  special  under- 
standing, of  course,  that  you  don't  print  anything 
in  the  paper.  I'm  a  vestryman  in  my  church,  but 
since  misfortune  has  come  upon  our  State  I  have 
to  be  careful." 

Haines  searched  his  brain.  He  knew  of  no  grave 
calamity  that  had  happened  recently  in  Mississippi. 

"Misfortune?"  he  questioned. 

Senator  Langdon  nodded. 

"Yes,  sir,  the  great  old  State  of  Mississippi  went 
prohibition  at  the  last  election.  I  don't  know  how 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      55 

it  happened.  We  haven't  found  anybody  in  the 
State  that  says  he  voted  for  it,  but 'the  fact  is  a 
fact.  I  assure  yon,  Mr.  Haines,  that  prohibition 
stops  at  my  front  door,  in  Mississippi.  So  I've 
been  living  a  quiet  life  down  on  my  plantation." 

"This  new  life  will  be  a  great  change  for  you, 
then?"  suggested  the  reporter. 

"Change!  It's  revolutionary,  sir!  When  you've 
expected  to  spend  your  old  days  peacefully  in  the 
country,  Mr.  Raines,  suddenly  to  find  that  your 
State  has  called  on  you " 

A  flavor  of  sarcasm  came  into  Haines'  reply. 

"The  office  seeking  the  man?9  He  could  not  help 
the  slight  sneer.  Was  a  man  never  to  admit  that 
he  had  sought  the  office?  Haines  knew  only  too 
well  of  the  arduous  work  necessary  to  secure  nom- 
inations for  high  office  in  conventions  and  to  win 
an  election  to  the  Senate  from  a  State  Legisla- 
ture, In  almost  every  case,  he  knew,  the  candi- 
date must  make  a  dozen  different  "deals"'  to  se- 
cure votes,  might  promise  the  same  office  to  two 
or  three  different  leaders,  force  others  into  line 
by  threats,  send  a  trusted  agent  to  another  with 
a  roll  of  bank  bills — the  recipient  of  which  would 
immediately  conclude  that  this  candidate  was  the 
only  man  in  the  State  who  could  save  the  nation 
from  destruction.  Had  not  Haines  seen  men  who 
had  sold  their  unsuspecting  delegates  for  cash  to 
the  highest  bidder  rise  in  the  convention  hall  and 
in  impassioned,  dramatic  voice  exclaim  in  praise 
of  the  buyer,  "Gentlemen,  it  would  be  a  crying 
shame,  a  crime  against  civilization,  if  the  chosen 

representatives  of  our  grand  old  State  of did 

not  go  on  record  in  favor  of  such  a  man,  such  a 
true  citizen,  such  an  inspired  patriot,  as  he  whose 
name  I  am  about  to  mention"?  So  the  reporter 


may  be  forgiven  for  the  ironical  tinge  in  his  hasty 
interruption  of  the  new  Senator's  remarks. 

Langdon  could  not  suppress  a  chuckle  at  the 
doubting  note  in  Haines'  attitude. 

"I  think  the  man  would  be  pretty  small  potatoes 
who  wouldn't  seek  the  office  of  United  States  Sena- 
tor, Mr.  Haines,"  he  said,  "if  he  could  get  it. 
When  I  was  a  young  man,  sir,  politics  in  the  South 
was  a  career  for  a  gentleman,  and  I  still  can't  see 
how  he  could  be  better  engaged  than  in  the  service 
of  his  State  or  his  country." 

"That's  right,"  agreed  the  reporter,  further  im- 
pressed by  the  frank  sincerity  of  the  Mississippian. 

"The  only  condition  in  my  mind,  Mr.  Haines, 
is  that  the  man  should  ask  himself  searchingly 
whether  or  not  he's  competent  to  give  the  service. 
But  I  seem  to  be  talking  a  good  deal.  Suppose  we 
get  to  the  interview.  Expect  your  time  is  short. 
We'd  better  begin." 

"I  thought  we  were  in  the  interview?"  smiled 
the  correspondent 

"In  it!"  exclaimed  Langdon.  "Well,  if  this  is 
it,  it  isn't  so  bad.  I  see  you  use  a  painless  method. 
Wrhen  I  was  down  in  Vicksburg  a  reporter  backed 
me  up  in  a  corner,  slipped  his  hand  in  his  hip 
pocket  and  pulled  out  a  list  of  questions  just  three 
feet  four  inches  long. 

"He  wanted  to  know  what  I  thought  concerning 
the  tariff  on  aluminium  hydrates,  and  how  I  stood 
about  the  opening  of  the  Tento  Pu  Reservation  of 
the  Comanche  Indians,  and  what  were  my  ideas 
about  the  differential  rate  of  hauls  from  the  Mis- 
souri River. 

"He  was  a  wonder,  that  fellow!  Kinder  out  of 
place  on  a  Mississippi  paper.  I  started  to  offer 
him  a  job,  but  he  was  so  proud  I  was  afraid  he 


wouldn't  accept  it  However,  it  gives  you  my  idea 
of  a  reporter." 

"If  you've  been  against  that,  I  ought  to  thank 
you  for  talking  to  me,"  laughed  Haines. 

"Then  you  don't  want  to  know  anything  about 
that  sort  of  stuff?"  said  Langdon,  with  a  huge  sigh 
of  relief. 

"No,  Senator,"  was  the  amused  reply.  "I  think 
generally  if  I  know  what  sort  of  a  man  a  man  is  I 
can  tell  a  great  deal  about  wThat  he  will  think  on 
various  questions." 

Langdon  started  interestedly. 

"You  mean,  Mr.  Haines,  if  you  know  whether 
I'm  honest  or  not  you  can  fit  me  up  with  a  set 
of  views.  Is  that  the  idea?  Seems  to  me  you're 
the  sort  of  man  I'm  looking  for." 

The  other  smilingly  shook  his  head. 

"I  wouldn't  dare  fix  up  a  United  States  Senator 
writh  a  set  of  views,"  he  said.  "I  only  mean  that 
I  think  what  a  man  is  is  important.  I've  been 
doing  Washington  for  a  number  of  years.  I've  had 
an  exceptional  opportunity  to  see  how  politics 
work.  I  don't  believe  in  party  politics.  I  don't 
believe  in  parties,  but  I  do  believe  in  men." 

Langdon  nodded  approvingly,  then  a  twinkle 
shone  in  his  eyes. 

"We  don't  believe  in  parties  in  Mississippi,"  he 
drawled.  "We've  only  one — the  Democratic  party 
— and  a  few  kickers."  ; 

Haines  grinned  broadly  at  this  description  of 
Southern  politics. 

"What  was  this  you  were  saying  about  national 
politics?"  continued  the  Mississippian.  "I'm  a  be- 
ginner, you  know,  and  I'm  always  ready  to  learn." 

"This  is  a  new  thing — a  reporter  teaching  a  Sena- 
tor politics,"  laughed  Haines. 


Senator  Langdon  joined  in  the  merriment. 

"I  reckon  reporters  could  teach  United  States 
Senators  lots  of  things,  Mr.  Haines,  if  the  Senators 
had  sense  enough  to  go  to  school.  Now,  I  come 
up  here  on  a  platform  the  chief  principle  of  which 
is  the  naval  base  for  the  gulf.  Now,  how  are  we 
going  to  put  that  through?  My  State  wants  it." 

"You're  probably  sure  it  will  be  a  wonderful 
thing  for  the  country  and  the  South,"  suggested 
Haines. 

"Of  course." 

"But  why  do  you  think  most  of  the  Congress- 
men and  Senators  will  vote  for  it?" 

The  Southerner  took  off  his  hat,  leaned  back  and 
gazed  across  the  lobby  thoughtfully. 

"Seems  to  jne  the  benefit  to  the  South  and 
country  would  be  sufficient  reason,  Mr.  Haines," 
he  finally  replied. 

The  newspaper  man's  brain  worked  rapidly. 
Going  over  the  entire  conversation  with  Langdon 
and  what  he  had  seen  of  him,  he  was  certain  that 
the  Mississippian  believed  what  he  said — that, 
moreover,  the  belief  was  deeply  rooted.  His  long 
newspaper  training  had  educated  Haines  in  the 
ways  of  men,  their  actions  and  mental  processes — 
what  naturally  to  expect  from  a  given  set  of  cir- 
cumstances. He  felt  a  growing  regard,  an  affec- 
tion, for  this  unassuming  old  man  before  him,  who 
did  not  know  and  probably  would  be  slow  to  under- 
stand the  hypocrisy,  the  cunning  trickery  of  law- 
makers who  unmake  laws. 

"Sufficient  reason  for  you,  Senator,"  Haines 
added.  "You  have  not  been  in  politics  very  long, 
have  you?"  he  queried  dryly. 

A  wry  smile  wrinkled  the  Mississippian's  face. 

"Been  in  long  enough  to  learn  some  unpleasant 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      59 

things  I  didn't  know  before."  He  remembered 
Martin  Sanders. 

"Will  you  allow  me  to  tell  you  a  few  more?" 
asked  Haines. 

Langdon  inclined  his  head  in  acquiescence. 
"Reckon  I'd  better  know  the  worst  and  get  through 
with  it." 

"Well,  then,  Senator,  somebody  from  Nebraska 
will  vote  for  what  you  want  in  the  way  of  the  naval 
base  because  he'll  think  then  you'll  help  him  de- 
mand money  to  dredge  some  muddy  creek  that  he 
has  an  interest  in. 

"Somebody  in  Pennsylvania  will  vote  for  it  be- 
cause he  owes  a  grudge  and  wants  to  hurt  the 
Philadelphia  ship  people. 

"You'll  get  the  Democrats  because  it's  for  the 
South,  but  if  your  bill  was  for  the  west  coast  they 
might  fight  it  tooth  and  nail,  even  with  the 
Japanese  fleet  cruising  dangerously  near. 

"And  the  Republicans  may  vote  for  it  because 
they  see  a  chance  to  claim  glory  and  perhaps  break 
the  solid  South  in  the  next  presidential  campaign. 
You  catch  the  idea?" 

"What!"  exclaimed  the  astounded  Langdon. 
"Well,  who  in  hades  will  vote  for  it  because  it's 
for  the  good  of  the  United  States?"  he  gasped. 

"I  believe  you  will,  Senator,"  replied  Haines, 
with  ready  confidence. 


HOW  SENATOR  LANGDON  GETS  A  SECRETARY 

LANGDON  leaned  over  and  seized  the  arm  of  his 
interviewer. 

"See  here,  young  man,  why  aren't  you  in  poli- 
tics?" he  said. 

"Too  busy,  Senator,"  replied  Haines.  "Besides,  I 
like  the  newspaper  game." 

"Game?"  queried  Langdon. 

"Oh,  I  use  the  word  in  a  general  sense,  Senator," 
replied  Haines.  "Pretty  much  everything  is  a 
'game' — society,  politics,  newspaper  work,  business 
of  every  sort.  Men  and  women  make  'moves'  to 
meet  the  moves  of  other  men  and  women.  Why, 
even  in  religion,  the  way  some  people  play  a " 

The  speaker  was  interrupted  by  the  appearance 
of  Hope  Georgia,  who  was  searching  for  her  father. 

"Stay  here  and  listen  to  what  a  hard  task  your 
old  father  has  got,"  said  the  Mississippian  to  his 
daughter,  whom  he  presented  to  Haines  with  a  pic- 
turesque flourish  reminiscent  of  the  pride  and 
chivalry  of  the  old  South.  "He  has  the  idea  that 
those  New  Yorkers  who  read  his  paper  would  ac- 
tually like  to  know  something  about  me." 

Hope  Georgia  stole  many  glances  at  the  reporter 
as  he  talked  with  her  father.  He  made  a  deep  im- 
pression on  her  young  mind.  She  had  spent  almost 
all  her  life  on  the  plantation,  her  father  provid- 
ing her  with  a  private  tutor  instead  of  sending  her 


>A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      61 

to  boarding-school,  where  her  elder  sister  had  been 
educated.  Owing  to  the  death  of  her  mother  the 
planter  had  desired  to  keep  Hope  Georgia  at  home 
for  companionship.  This  good-looking,  clean-cut, 
well-built  young  man  who  was  taking  so  big  and 
so  active  a  part  of  the  world's  work  brought  to  her 
the  atmosphere  that  her  spirit  craved.  He  gave 
one  an  impression  of  ability,  of  earnestness,  of  sin- 
cerity, and  she  was  glad  that  her  father  approved 
of  him. 

Hope  Georgia,  by  the  same  token,  did  not  escape 
the  attention  of  the  interviewer.  Her  appealing 
charm  of  face  and  figure  was  accentuated  by  her 
daintiness  and  a  fleeting  suggestion  of  nai'vetS  in 
poise  and  expression  wrhen  she  was  amused.  His 
first  glance  revealed  to  Haines  that  her  eyes  were 
gray,  the  gray  that  people  say  indicates  the  pos- 
sessor to  have  those  priceless  qualities — the  quali- 
ties that  make  the  sweetest  women  true,  that  make 
the  maiden's  eyes  in  truth  the  windows  of  her  soul, 
the  qualities  that  make  w7omen  womanly. 

She  sat  close  to  her  father,  her  hand  in  his,  lis- 
tening intently  to  the  unfolding  of  a  story  of  what 
to  her  was  a  mysterious  world — the  man's  world, 
the  strong  man's  world — which  many  a  woman 
would  give  her  all  to  enter  and  play  a  part  therein. 

"What  else  have  you  against  a  political  career, 
Mr.  Haines?"  went  on  the  Senator,  taking  up  their 
conversation. 

"Well,  my  age,  for  one  thing.  I  haven't  any 
gray  hairs." 

Langdon  waved  this  objection  aside. 

"I  might  arrange  to  pool  ages  with  you.  Some- 
times I  think  we  want  young  men  in  politics,  like 
you." 

The  reporter  shook  his  head. 


62      rA  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"Old  in  age  and  yonng  in  politics,  like  you,  Sena- 
tor Langdon,"  he  replied.  "Politics  I  sometimes 
think  is  pure  hypocrisy  and  sometimes  something 
worse.  A  man  gets  disgusted  with  the  trickery  and 
dishonesty  and  corruption." 

"Then,"  drawled  Langdon,  "the  thing  to  do  is  to 
jump  in  and  stop  it!  I  read  in  the  newspapers  a 
great  deal  about  corruption.  The  gentlemen  in  na- 
tional politics  whom  I  have  had  the  honor  of  know- 
ing— Senator  Moseley,  an  intimate  friend  of  thirty 
years;  my  present  colleague,  Senator  Stevens,  and 
others — have  been  as  honest  as  the  day  is  long." 

"But  the  days  do  get  short  in  November,  when 
Congress  meets,  don't  they?"  laughed  Haines,  ris- 
ing. "I'm  afraid  I've  taken  too  much  of  your  time, 
and  I  seem  to  have  talked  a  lot." 

Langdon  was  amused. 

"Does  look  like  I'd  been  interviewing  you.  I 
reckon  each  one  of  us  has  got  a  pretty  good  notion 
of  what  the  other  man's  like.  I  wanted  it  that  way, 
and  I  like  you,  Mr.  Haines.  I've  got  a  proposition 
to  make  to  you.  They  tell  me  I'll  need  a  secretary. 
Now,  I  think  I  need  just  such  a  young  man  as  you. 
I  don't  know  just  exactly  what  the  work  would  be 
or  what  the  financial  arrangements  should  be,  but 
I  think  you  and  I  would  make  a  pretty  good  team. 
I  wish  you'd  come."  He  turned  to  his  daughter, 
with  a  smile.  "What  do  you  think  of  that,  Hope 
Georgia?  Isn't  your  dad  right?" 

Smiling  her  approval,  the  young  girl  squeezed 
her  father's  hand  in  her  enthusiasm. 

"I  think  it's  a  splendid  idea,  dad;  just  great! 
Won't  you  come,  Mr.  Haines?  We — eh — I — I  know 
my  father  would  like  to  have  you." 

As  he  stood  before  his  two  new-found  friends — 
for  such  Haines  now  considered  the  Mississippian 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      63 

j 

and  his  daughter — he  could  not  suppress  feelings  of 
surprise  tinged  with  uncertainty.  He  had,  like 
other  newspaper  men,  received  offers  of  employ- 
ment from  politicians  who  desired  to  increase  their 
influence  with  the  press.  Sometimes  the  salary  of- 
fered had  been  large,  the  work  so  light  that  the  re- 
porter could  "earn"  the  money  and  yet  retain  his 
newspaper  position,  a  scantily  disguised  species  of 
bribery,  which  had  wrecked  the  careers  of  several 
promising  reporters  well  known  to  Haines,  young 
men  who  had  been  thus  led  into  "selling  their  col- 
umns" by  unscrupulous  machine  dictators. 

Haines  knew  that  the  Mississippian  had  no  ul- 
terior purpose  to  serve  in  his  offer,  yet  he  must 
have  time  to  think  over  the  proposal. 

"I  thank  you,  Senator,"  he  finally  said.  "I  ap- 
preciate the  opportunity,  coming  from  you,  but  I've 
never  thought  of  giving  up  the  newspaper  profes- 
sion. It's  a  fascinating  career,  one  that  I  am  too 
fond  of  to  leave." 

Langdon  started  to  reply,  when  a  delightfully 
modulated  Southern  voice  interrupted : 

"Father,  I've  been  out  with  Mrs.  Spangler  to  look 
for  some  other  rooms.  I  don't  like  this  hotel,  and 
I  found  some  that  I  do  like." 

Haines  turned  to  see  a  handsomely  gowned  young 
woman  who  had  the  stamp  of  a  patrician's  daughter 
in  her  bearing  and  her  countenance — a  brunette, 
with  delicate  features,  though  determination  shone 
in  her  eyes  and  appeared  in  the  self-contained  poise 
of  her  head.  She  was  the  imperious  type  of  beauty 
and  suggested  to  Haines  the  dry  point  etchings 
of  Paul  Helleu.  He  instinctively  conceived  her  to 
be  intensely  ambitious,  and  of  this  Haines  was  soon 
to  have  unexpected  evidence.  Gazing  at  her  with 


64      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

a  sense  of  growing  admiration,  Haines  gave  an  in- 
voluntary start  as  Senator  Langdon  spoke. 

"My  daughter,  Miss  Carolina  Langdon,  Mr. 
Haines,"  said  the  Senator. 

Carolina  was  interested. 

"Are  you  the  newspaper  man  who  is  interview- 
ing father?  I  hope  you'll  do  a  nice  one.  We  want 
him  to  be  a  successful  and  popular  Senator.  We'd 
like  to  help  him  if  we  could." 

The  correspondent  bowed. 

"I  should  say  you  certainly  would  help  him  to 
be  a  popular  Senator,"  he  declared,  emphatically, 
failing  to  notice  that  Hope  Georgia  was  somewhat 
annoyed  at  the  enthusiasm  displayed  over  her 
elder  sister.  In  fact,  Hope  Georgia  was  suffering 
a  partial,  if  not  total,  eclipse. 

"I'm  leaving  it  to  Mr.  Haines  to  put  down  the 
things  I  ought  to  say."  broke  in  the  Senator.  "He 
knows." 

"Yes,  he  knows  everything  about  Washington, 
Carolina,"  exclaimed  Hope  Georgia,  spiritedly. 

The  older  girl  spoke  eagerly. 

"I  wish  you'd  interview  me,  Mr.  Haines.  Ask 
me  how  I  like  Washington.  I  feel  as  though  I  must 
tell  some  one  just  how  much  I  do  like  it !  It  is  too 
wonderful !" 

"I'd  like  mighty  well  to  interview  you,  Miss  Lang- 
don," enthusiastically  exclaimed  Haines. 

"I  hope  you  will  some  time,  Mr.  Haines,"  re- 
marked Carolina,  as  she  said  good-by. 

Watching  her  as  she  turned  away,  Haines  saw 
her  extend  a  warm  greeting  to  Congressman  Charles 
Norton,  who  had  advanced  toward  the  group. 

"Strange  how  the  Langdons  treat  him  as  a  friend 
— intimate  one,  too,"  he  thought.  "What  if  they 
should  learn  of  Norton's  questionable  operations  at 


• 


the  Capitol;  of  his  connection  with  two  unsavory 
'deals,'  one  of  which  resulted  in  an  amendment  to 
the  pure  food  law  so  that  manufacturers  of  a  value- 
less 'consumption  cure'  could  continue  to  mislead 
the  victims  of  the  'white  plague' ;  Norton,  who  had 
uttered  an  epigram  now  celebrated  in  the  tap-rooms 
of  Washington,  'The  paths  of  glory  lead  but  to  the 
graft.' ' 

"Miss  Langdon  is  very  beautiful  and  attractive, 
sir,"  said  Haines,  resuming  with  the  Senator. 

"Yes,"  drawled  the  Mississippian.  "Girls  in  the 
South  generally  are." 

"Well,  I  must  be  going.  I'll  think  about  your 
secretaryship,  Senator  Langdon.  Perhaps  I  can 
find  some  one." 

"Wish  you'd  think  about  it  for  yourself,"  ob- 
served the  Senator,  while  Hope  Georgia  again 
nodded  approval.  "It  would  be  a  hard  job.  There 
are  so  many  matters  of  political  detail  about  which 
I  am  sadly  inexperienced  that  really  most  of  the 
work  would  fall  on  the  secretary." 

Bud  Haines  paused.  Again  he  thought  over 
Langdon's  offer.  Its  genuineness  appealed  to  him. 
Suddenly  there  dawned  on  him  an  idea  of  just  what 
it  might  mean  to  be  associated  with  this  honest  old 
citizen  who  had  asked  for  his  help — who  needed 
it,  as  Haines  knew  only  too  well.  He  would  be  the 
Senator's  guide  and  confidant — his  adviser  in  big 
matters.  Why,  he  would  practically  be  United 
States  Senator  himself.  He  knew  the  "inside"  as 
few  others  in  Washington.  Here  was  a  chance  to 
match  his  wit  against  that  of  Peabody,  the  boss  of 
the  Senate ;  a  chance  to  spoil  some  of  the  dishonest 
schemes  of  those  who  were  adroitly  "playing  the 
game."  He  could  bother,  too,  the  intriguing  mem- 
bers of  the  "third  house/'  as  the  lobbyists  are  called. 


66      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

He  could  direct  a  lightning  bolt  into  the  camp  of 
Andy  Corrigan,  who  claimed  the  honor  of  being 
"speaker  of  the  third  house."  These  thoughts 
crowded  into  his  mind.  Then,  too,  he  would  be- 
come practically  a  member  of  the  Langdon  family 
and  have  association  with  the  two  charming  daugh- 
ters— with  Carolina  Langdon. 

"It  would  be  a  great  chance,"  he  murmured  half 
aloud ;  "next  thing  to  being  a  Senator." 

The  old  Mississippian  heard  the  young  man's 
words. 

"I  reckon  it  would,"  he  drawled,  in  agreement 

"You  feel  sure  you  want  me?"  urged  the  other. 

Langdon  chuckled. 

"I  asked  you,"  he  said. 

Haines  came  abruptly  to  decision. 

"I've  thought  it  over,  Senator,  and  it  seems  to  me 
it  will  be  a  great  chance  in  every  way.  I'll  accept. 
We'll  fix  it  up  to-morrow,  and  I'll  try  to  make  you 
a  good  secretary." 

Langdon  held  forth  his  hand. 

"And  I'll  try  to  make  you  a  good  Senator,  my 
boy.  Fix  up  nothing  to-morrow.  Your  duties  be- 
gin to-night.  You  are  to  come  to  dinner  with  me 
and  my  daughters." 


CHAPTER   IX 

A  NEW  KIND  OF  POLITICAL  'PARTNERSHIP 

THE  combination  of  the  forces  of  Langdon  and 
Haines  did  not  find  much  favor  among  the  powers 
that  are — at  the  Capitol.  Senator  Peabody  per- 
emptorily demanded  an  explanation  from  Stevens 
as  to  how  he  had  allowed  "his  Senator"  to  engage 
as  his  secretary  "this  inquisitive  man  Haines,  a  re- 
porter who  didn't  know  his  place." 

"Here  we've  put  Langdon  on  naval  affairs  be- 
cause we  knew  he  didn't  understand  what's  going 
on,  and  you,  Stevens,  supposed  to  be  the  finished 
product  of  the  political  mill,  you  fall  asleep  and  let 
him  take  up  a  man  whom  nobody  can  control,  one 
who  knows  the  inside  workings  of  Washington  and 
who  will  take  par-tic-u-lar  pleasure  in  teaching  your 
fellow  Mississippian  far  too  much  for  our  good." 

Stevens'  reply,  to  effect  that  probably  Haines 
would  consent  to  be  "taken  care  of  if  judiciously 
approached,  was  derided  by  the  observant  Peabody. 
"A  young  reformer  grows  fat  on  notoriety,"  he 
laughed,  "and  think  what  a  scandal  he  would  have 
for  his  newspaper  if  we  took  a  chance  on  disclosing 
our  hand  to  him.  No,  no,  Stevens;  we  must  have 
him  watched  and  try  to  discredit  him  in  some  way. 
Perhaps  we  can  make  Langdon  believe  that  his  sec- 
retary is  dishonest." 

Congressman  Norton  was  another  man  who  was 
dismayed  at  the  formation  of  the  firm  of  Langdon 

67 


68      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

and  Haines.  Young  Randolph,  too,  could  not  for- 
get the  defeat  and  humiliation  he  had  previously 
suffered  at  Haines'  hands  and  grew  more  bitter  as 
the  reporter's  influence  over  his  father  grew 
stronger.  But  Haines'  most  effective  enemy  had 
arisen  in  the  person  he  would  be  the  last  to  sus- 
pect ;  one  whom  he  unceasingly  admired,  one  whose 
very  words  he  had  come  to  cherish.  And  possibly  it 
was  not  all  her  own  fault  that  Carolina  Langdon 
had  enlisted  her  services,  subtle  and  quite  over- 
whelming (owing  to  Haines'  fervent  worship  of 
her),  against  the  secretary.  Perhaps  the  social  sys- 
tem of  which  she  had  become  a  part  in  Washington 
had  something  to  do  with  the  craving  to  become  a 
leader  in  that  fascinating  world  whose  dazzling 
variety  and  infinite  diversion  seemed  to  fill  her  soul 
with  all  that  it  yearned  for.  Love  she  had,  for  she 
had  now  promised  to  wed  Congressman  Norton. 
She  loved  him  fondly,  she  had  confessed  to  him, 
and  gradually  she  came  to  work  desperately  against 
Haines,  who,  she  had  been  convinced  by  Norton  and 
Randolph,  would  prove  a  stumbling-block  to  them, 
to  her  father,  to  herself  in  her  career  at  the  capital, 
if  his  influence  over  the  Senator  should  be  permit- 
ted to  exist  or  to  increase.  And  so  on  the  surface 
Carolina  Langdon  was  most  amiable  to  the  secre- 
tary, encouraged  him  in  his  attentions  to  her,  led 
him  surely  into  her  power,  Norton  having  prevailed 
on  her  to  keep  the  knowledge  of  their  engagement 
secret  from  every  one,  even  her  father. 

The  days  and  nights  became  filled  with  important 
work  for  Senator  Langdon  and  his  secretary.  To- 
gether they  wrent  over  the  important  measures,  out- 
lined what  appeared  to  be  the  best  course  of  pro- 
cedure, and  carried  it  into  effect  as  far  as  possible. 
Langdon  became  a  prominent  figure  in  the  Senate, 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      69 

owing  to  his  consistent  support  of  measures  that 
fitted  in  with  the  public  policy,  or  what  should  be 
the  public  policy,  of  the  nation.  He  had  learned 
that  the  only  practicable  way  to  outwit  or  to  cope 
with  the  members  of  the  dominating  machine,  made 
up,  he  was  surprised  to  see,  of  members  of  both  the 
parties — the  only  two  in  Washington — was  to  op- 
pose what  the  machine  wanted  with  enough  power 
to  force  it  to  grant  him  what  he  believed  the  public 
ought  to  have.  He  was  described  by  some  of  the 
hide-bound  "insiders"  on  Capitol  Hill  as  "the  only 
brainy  man  who  had  fought  the  machine  in  thirty 
years." 

At  the  home  he  had  later  established  in  Washing- 
ton as  preferable  to  the  International  Hotel  were 
frequently  seen  a  small  coterie  of  Senators  and 
Congressmen  who  had  become  known  to  the  sarcas- 
tic party  bosses  in  both  houses  of  Congress  as  the 
"Langdon  crowd,"  which  crowd  was  admitted  to  be 
somewhat  a  factor  when  it  finally  prevailed  on  the 
President  to  take  over  11,000  postmasters  from  the 
appointment  class  and  put  them  under  the  control 
of  the  Civil  Service  Commission,  resulting  in  the 
necessity  of  a  competitive  examination  for  these 
postmasters  instead  of  their  securing  positions 
through  political  favoritism. 

Those  who  did  not  know  Langdon  intimately  sug- 
gested that  "this  fellow  ought  to  be  'taken  care  of.' 
What  in  God's  name  does  he  want?  A  committee 
chairmanship?  An  ambassadorship  for  some  Mis- 
sissippi charcoal  burner?  A  couple  of  Federal 
judgeships  for  his  friends?  Well,  whatever  it  is, 
give  it  to  him  and  get  him  in  with  the  rest  of  us !" 

Again  it  was  Peabody  who  had  the  deciding  say. 

"There's  only  one  thing  worse  than  a  young  re- 
former, and  that's  an  old  one,"  he  laughed  bitterly 


70      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

at  a  secret  conclave  at  his  apartment  in  the  lux- 
urious Louis  Napoleon  Hotel.  "The  young  one 
thinks  he  is  going  to  live  and  wants  our  future 
profits  for  himself.  The  old  one  thinks  he's  going 
to  die,  and  he's  sore  at  leaving  so  much  graft  be- 
hind him." 

Heads  and  hearts  thinking  and  throbbing  to- 
gether, Langdon  and  his  secretary  had  learned  to 
lean  on  each  other,  the  young  gaining  inspiration 
from  the  old,  the  old  gaining  strength  from  the 
young.  They  loved  each  other,  and,  more  than  any 
love,  they  trusted  one  another.  And  Hope  Georgia 
watched  it  all  and  rejoiced,  for  she  believed  with 
all  the  accrued  erudition  of  eighteen  years  of  inno- 
cent girlhood  that  Mr.  Bud  Haines  was  quite  the 
finest  specimen  of  young  manhood  this  world  had 
ever  produced.  How  could  he  have  happened  ?  She 
was  sure  that  she  had  never  met  his  equal,  not  even 
in  that  memorable  week  she  had  spent  in  Jackson. 

The  passing  weeks  taught  Haines  that  he  was 
deeply  in  love  with  Carolina,  and,  though  he  had 
endeavored  to  keep  the  knowledge  of  this  from  her, 
her  woman's  intuition  had  told  her  his  secret,  and 
she  stifled  the  momentary  regrets  that  flitted  into 
her  mind,  because  she  was  now  in  "the  game"  her- 
self, the  Washington  game,  that  ensnares  the 
woman  as  well  as  the  man  and  makes  her  a  slave 
to  its  fancy.  No  one  but  herself  and  Norton  knew 
how  deeply  she  had  "plunged"  on  a  certain  possible 
turn  of  the  political  cards.  She  must  not,  she  could 
not,  lose  if  life  itself  were  to  remain  of  value  to  her, 
and  on  her  sway  over  this  secretary  she  was  told  it 
all  depended. 

A  subject  that  for  some  unexplained  reason  fre- 
quently lodged  in  Haines'  mind  was  that  of  the  ap- 
parent assiduity  with  which  Mrs.  Spangler  culti- 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      71 

vated  Senator  Langdon's  friendship.  For  several 
years  she  had  occupied  a  high  social  position  at  the 
capital,  he  well  knew,  but  various  indefinite,  in- 
tangible rumors  he  had  heard,  he  could  not  state 
exactly  where,  had  made  him  regret  her  growing 
intimacy  with  the  girls  and  with  the  Senator.  They 
had  met  her  through  letters  of  introduction  of  the 
most  trustworthy  and  assuring  character  from  peo- 
ple of  highest  social  rank  in  Virginia,  where  the 
Langdons  had  many  friends;  but  even  so,  Haines 
realized,  people  who  write  introductory  letters  are 
sometimes  thoughtless  in  considering  all  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  parties  they  introduce,  and  resi- 
dents of  Virginia  who  had  not  been  in  the  capital 
for  years  might  be  forgiven  for  not  knowing  of  all 
the  more  recent  developments  in  the  lives  of  those 
they  knew  in  Washington.  While  not  wishing  to 
have  the  Senator  know  of  his  intention,  the  secre- 
tary determined  to  investigate  Mrs.  Spangler  and 
her  present  mode  of  life  at  his  first  opportunity, 
hoping  the  while  that  his  quest  would  reveal  her 
to  be  what  the  Langdons  considered  her — a  widow 
of  wealth,  fashion  and  reserve  who  resided  at  the 
capital  because  the  memories  of  her  late  husband, 
a  former  Congressman  of  high  standing,  were  asso- 
ciated with  it. 

Calling  at  the  Langdons'  house  one  evening  in 
February  to  receive  directions  regarding  important 
work  for  the  next  day,  Haines  was  somewhat  puz- 
zled at  the  peculiar  smile  on  the  Senator's  face. 
Answering  the  secretary's  look  of  inquiry,  the  Mis- 
sissippian  said: 

"I've  been  told  that  I  can  name  the  new  holder 
of  a  five-thousand-dollar-a-year  position  in  the  De- 
partment of  Commerce  and  Labor,  and  that  if  I 


72      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

have  no  one  in  particular  from  my  State  to  name — 
that — that  you  would  be  a  good  man  for  the  job. 
First  I  was  glad  for  your  sake,  my  boy,  for  if  you 
wanted  it  you  could  have  the  position.  But  on 
thinking  it  over  it  seemed  there  might  be  something 
behind  it  not  showing  on  the  surface." 

"It's  a  trick,"  said  Haines.  "Who  made  the 
offer?" 

"Senator  Stevens." 

"I  might  have  known,"  hotly  responded  the  sec- 
retary. "There's  a  crowd  that  wants  you  and  me 
separated.  Thought  this  bait  too  much  for  me  to 
resist,  did  they?"  Then  he  paused,  rubbing  his  fin- 
gers through  his  hair  in  a  perplexed  manner. 
"Strange,  isn't  it,  Senator,  that  a  man  of  your 
party  is  offered  this  desirable  piece  of  patronage, 
entirely  unsolicited  on  your  part,  from  the  admin- 
istration of  another,  a  different  political  party? 
Especially  when  that  other  party  has  so  many  hun- 
gry would-be  'tax  eaters'  clamoring  to  enter  the 
'land  of  milk  and  honey.'  I  think  Stevens  deliber- 
ately  " 

"There,  there,  Bud,"  broke  in  Langdon,  "you 
mustn't  say  anything  against  Senator  Stevens  to 
me.  True,  he  associates  with  some  folks  I  don't 
approve  of,  but  that  doesn't  necessarily  mean  any- 
thing wrong,  and  I  myself  have  always  found  him 
thoroughly  honest." 

"Yes,"  muttered  the  secretary,  following  the  Sen- 
ator into  the  library,  "you've  always  found  him  hon- 
est because  you  think  everybody's  honest — but  Ste- 
vens is  just  the  doctor  who  will  cure  you  of  this 
ailment — this  chronic  trustfulness." 

Haines  laughed  softly.  "When  Peabody's  little 
Stevie  gets  through  hacking  at  the  prostrate  body 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      73 

of  political  purity  his  two-handed  sword  of  politi- 
cal corruption  will  need  new  edges." 

Thus  far  neither  the  Senator  nor  his  secretary 
had  suspicion  of  any  questionable  deal  in  regard 
to  the  gulf  naval  base.  The  rush  of  other  events, 
particularly  the  fight  over  the  reduction  of  the 
tariff,  had  pushed  this  project  temporarily  into  the 
background  so  far  as  they  were  concerned,  though 
the  "boss  of  the  Senate"  and  his  satellites  had  been 
losing  no  time  in  perfecting  their  plans  regarding 
the  choice  of  Altacoola  as  the  site. 

Peabody  and  Stevens  had  ingeniously  exploited 
Langdon  at  every  possible  opportunity  in  relation 
to  the  naval  base.  Asked  about  new  developments 
in  the  committee  on  naval  affairs,  the  ready  answer 
was :  "Better  see  Senator  Langdon.  He  knows  all 
about  the  naval  base;  has  the  matter  in  full  charge. 
I  really  know  little  about  it." 

So,  by  hiding  behind  the  unsuspecting  old  hero 
of  Crawfordsville,  they  diverted  from  themselves 
any  possible  suspicion  and  placed  Langdon  where 
he  would  have  to  bear  the  brunt  of  the  great  scandal 
that  would,  they  well  knew,  come  out  at  some  fu- 
ture time — after  their  foul  conspiracy  against  the 
nation  had  been  consummated,  after  the  fruits  of 
their  betrayal  had  been  secured. 

What,  after  all,  the  schemers  concluded,  is  the 
little  matter  of  an  investigation  among  Senators  to 
guilty  Senators  who,  deeply  versed  in  the  law,  have 
destroyed  every  compromising  document  that  could 
be  admissible  as  evidence? 

Why,  the  Senate  would  appoint  an  investigating 
committee  and  investigate  itself,  would  it  not,  when 
the  ridiculous  scandal  came? 

And  what  Senator  would  fear  himself,  or  for  him- 
self, as  he  investigated  himself,  when  the  blame  had 


74      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

already  been  put  publicly  on  some  one  else,  some 
simple-minded  old  soul  who  could  go  back  to  his 
cotton  fields  in  Mississippi  and  forget  all  about  it, 
strong  in  his  innocence,  even  though  shorn  of  repu- 
tation, and  desire  to  live? 


CHAPTER  X 

WHEN  SENATORS  DISAGREE 

THE  wiseacres  of  Washington  had  nightly  pre- 
dicted that  the  site  of  the  hundred-million-dollar 
gulf  naval  base  would  be  decided  on  in  March,  after 
the  excitement  and  gayety  attending  the  presiden- 
tial inauguration  had  subsided. 

On  the  morning  of  the  day  before  this  action  of 
the  committee  on  naval  affairs  was  to  be  taken  Sec- 
retary Haines  sat  at  his  desk  in  Senator  Langdon's 
committee  room  in  the  Capitol.  Richard  Cullen, 
the  favorite  associate  of  Haines  in  his  journalistic 
days,  out  earlier  than  usual  on  his  daily  round  of 
the  departments  for  news  for  his  Chicago  paper, 
had  strolled  in  and  attempted  a  few  of  his  charac- 
teristic cynicisms.  Haines  usually  found  them  en- 
tertaining, but  these  were  directed  at  Senator  Lang- 
don. 

"Now,  let  me  tell  you  something,  Dick,"  the  sec- 
retary answered,  firmly.  "Don't  you  work  off  all 
your  dyspeptic  ideas  in  this  neighborhood.  My 
Senator  is  a  great  man.  They  can't  appreciate  him 
up  here  because  he's  honest — crystal  clear.  I  used 
to  think  I  knew  what  a  decent  citizen,  a  real  man, 
ought  to  be,  but  he's  taught  me  some  new  things. 
He'll  teach  them  all  something  before  he  gets 
through." 

Cullen  hung  one  leg  over  Haines'  desk. 

"You're  a  nice,  quiet,  gentlemanly  little  optimist, 

715 


76      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

and  I  like  you,  old  fellow,"  retorted  Cullen.  "But 
don't  deceive  yourself  too  much.  Your  Senator 
Langdon  is  personally  one  of  the  best  ever.  But  he 
was  born  a  mark,  and  a  mark  he'll  be  to  the  end  of 
time. 

"He  looks  good  now.  Sure,  I  like  his  speeches, 
and  all  that,  but  just  wait.  When  some  of  those  old 
foxes  in  the  Senate  want  to  put  his  head  in  the  bag 
and  tie  it  down,  they  won't  have  anv  trouble  at 
all." 

Smiling,  Haines  looked  up  at  his  cynical  friend. 

"The  bag'll  have  to  go  over  my  head,  too,"  he  said, 
with  a  nod. 

"Well,  I  don't  know  that  Peabody'd  have  to 
strain  himself  very  much  to  get  such  an  awful  big 
bag  to  drop  you  both  in,  if  it  comes  right  down  to 
that,  old  chap.  You're  making  a  mistake.  You're 
as  bad  as  your  old  man.  You're  a  beautiful  pair  of 
optimists,  and  you  a  good  newspaper  man,  too — it's 
a  shame!" 

After  momentary  hesitation,  Cullen  continued, 
thoroughly  serious. 

"But,  my  old  friend,"  he  said  in  low  tone,  glanc- 
ing quickly  about,  "there's  one  thing  that  you've 
got  to  put  a  stop  to.  It's  hurting  you." 

The  secretary's  face  showed  his  bewilderment. 

"What  do  you  mean?"  he  snapped,  abruptly. 
"Out  with  it!" 

"I  mean,"  replied  Cullen,  "that  rumors  are  going 
around  that  you  are  keeping  Langdon  away  from 
the  crowd  of  'insiders'  in  the  Senate  for  your  own 
purposes — that,  in  short,  you  plan  to " 

"I  understand,"  was  the  quick  interruption.  "I 
am  accused  of  wanting  to  'deliver'  Senator  Lang- 
don, guarantee  his  vote,  on  some  graft  proposition, 
so  that  I  can  get  the  money  and  not  he  himself. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      77! 

Consequently  I'm  tipping  him  off  on  what  meas- 
ures are  honest,  so  that  he'll  vote  for  them,  until — 
until  I'm  offered  my  price,  then  influence  him  to 
vote  for  some  big  crooked  scheme,  telling  him  it  is 
all  right.  He  votes  as  I  suggest,  and  I  get  the 
money !" 

"That's  what  'delivering  a  man'  means  in  Wash- 
ington," dryly  answered  the  Chicago  correspondent. 
"It  means  winning  a  man's  confidence,  his  support, 
his  vote,  through  friendship,  and  then  selling  it  for 
cash " 

"But  you,  Dick,  you  have " 

"Of  course,  old  man,  I  have  denied  the  truth  of 
this.  I  knew  you  too  well  to  doubt  you.  Still,  the 
yarn  is  hurting  you.  Remember  that  Western  Sena- 
tor who  was  'delivered'  twice,  both  ways,  on  a  graft 
bill?"  he  laughingly  asked  the  secretary. 

"Should  say  I  did,  Dick.  That  is  the  record  for 
that  game.  It  was  a  corporation  measure.  One  rail- 
road wanted  it;  another  opposed  it.  The  Senator 
innocently  told  an  Eastern  Senator  that  he  was 
going  to  vote  for  the  bill.  Then  the  Easterner  went 
to  the  railroad  wanting  the  bill  passed  and  got 
$7,000  on  his  absolute  promise  that  he  would  get 
Senator  X.  to  vote  for  it,  who,  of  course,  did  vote 
for  it." 

"Yes,"  said  Cullen,  "and  later,  when  Senator  X. 
heard  that  Senator  Z.  had  got  money  for  his  vote, 
he  was  wild.  Then  when  another  effort  was  made ; 
to  pass  the  bill  (which  had  been  defeated)  the  'de- 
livered' Senator  said  to  Z.  as  he  met  him  unexpect- 
edly: 'You  scoundrel,  here's  where  I  get  square 
with  you  to  some  extent.  Anyway,  I'm  going  to 
vote  against  that  bill  this  time  and  make  a  long 
speech  against  it,  too.'  Senator  Z.  then  hustled  to 
the  lobbyist  of  the  railroad  that  wanted  the  bill 


78      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

killed  and  guaranteed  him  that  for  $10,000  he  could 
get  Senator  X.  to  change  his  vote,  to  vote  against 
the  bill." 

"And  he  got  the  money,  too,  both  ways,"  added 
Haines,  as  Cullen  concluded,  "and  both  railroads 
to  this  day  think  that  X.  received  the  money 
from  Z." 

"Of  course,"  said  Cullen,  "but  X.  was  to  blame, 
though.  He  didn't  know  enough  to  keep  to  himself 
how  he  was  going  to  vote.  Any  man  that  talks  that 
way  will  be  'delivered.'  " 

"I  know  how  to  stop  those  rumors,  for  I'm  sure 
it's  Peabody's  work,  he  thinking  Langdon  will  hear 
the  talk  and  mistrust  me,"  began  Haines,  when  in 
came  Senator  Langdon  himself,  his  face  beaming 
contentedly.  Little  did  the  junior  Senator  from 
Mississippi  realize  that  he  was  soon  to  face  the  se* 
verest  trial,  the  most  vital  crisis,  of  his  entire  life. 

Cullen  responded  to  the  Senator's  cheery  greet- 
ing of  "Mornin',  everybody !" 

"Senator,"  he  asked,  "my  paper  wants  your  opin- 
ion on  the  question  of  the  election  of  Senators  by 
popular  vote.  Do  you  think  the  system  of  electing 
Senators  by  vote  of  State  Legislatures  should  be 
abolished?" 

The  Mississippian  cocked  his  head  to  one  side. 

"I  reckon  that's  a  question  that  concerns  future 
Senators,  and  not  those  already  elected,"  he  chuck- 
led. 

Haines  laughed  at  Cullen,  who  thrust  his  pad 
into  his  pocket  and  hurried  away. 

"It  is  to-day  that  I  appear  before  the  ways  and 
means  committee,  isn't  it?"  Langdon  queried  of  his 
secretary. 

"Yes,"  said  Haines,  consulting  his  memorandum 
book.  "At  11  o'clock  you  go  before  ways  and  means 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI       79 

to  put  forward  the  needs  of  your  State  on  the  mat- 
ter of  the  reduction  of  the  tariff  on  aluminium 
hydrates.  The  people  of  Mississippi  believe  it  has 
actually  put  back  life  into  the  exhausted  cotton 
lands.  In  Virginia  they  hope  to  use  it  on  the  to- 
bacco fields." 

"Where  does  the  pesky  stuff  come  from?"  asked 
the  Senator. 

"From  South  America,"  coached  the  secretary. 
"The  South  is  in  a  hurry  for  it,  so  the  duty  must 
come  down.  You'll  have  to  bluff  a  bit,  because  Pea- 
body  and  his  crowd  will  try  to  make  a  kind  of  bar- 
gain— wanting  you  to  keep  up  iron  and  steel  duties. 
But  you  don't  believe  that  iron  and  steel  need  help, 
you  will  tell  them,  don't  you  see>  so  that  they  will 
feel  the  necessity  of  giving  you  what  you  want  for 
the  South  in  order  to  gain  your  support  for  the  iron 
and  steel  demands." 

The  office  door  opened  and  Senator  Peabody  ap- 
peared. 

"Peabody,"  whispered  the  secretary. 

Instantly  the  Mississippian  had  his  cue.  His 
back  to  Peabody,  he  rose,  brought  down  his  fist 
heavily  upon  the  desk,  and  expounded  oratorically 
to  Haines: 

"What  we  can  produce  of  aluminium  hydrates, 
my  boy,  is  problematical,  but  the  South  is  in  a 
hurry  for  it,  and  the  duty  must  come  down.  It's 
got  to  come  down,  and  I'm  not  going  to  do  anything 
else  until  it  does." 

The  secretary  stretched  across  the  desk. 

"Excuse  me,  Senator;  Senator  Peabody  is  here," 
he  said,  loudly  and  surprisedly,  as  though  he  had 
just  sighted  the  boss  of  the  Senate. 

The  Mississippian  turned. 


80      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"Oh,  good-morning,  Senator.  I  was  just  talking 
with  my  secretary  about  that  hydrate  clause." 

Peabody  bowed  slightly. 

"Yes,  I  knew  it  was  coming  up,"  he  said,  "so  I 
just  dropped  over.  I'm  not  opposed  to  it  or  any 
Southern  measure;  but  it  makes  it  more  difficult  for 
me  when  you  Southern  people  oppose  certain  Pitts- 
burg  interests  that  I  have  to  take  care  of." 

Langdon  smiled. 

"I've  never  been  in  Pittsburg,  but  they  tell  me 
it  looks  as  if  it  could  take  care  of  itself." 

The  visitor  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"That's  true  enough ;  but  give  and  take  is  the  rule 
in  political  matters,  Langdon." 

This  remark  brought  a  frown  to  Langdon's  face. 

"I  don't  like  bargaining  between  gentlemen,  Pea- 
body.  More  important  still,  I  don't  believe  Ameri- 
can politics  has  to  be  run  on  that  plan.  Why  can't 
we  change  a  lot  of  things  now  that  we  are  here?" 

Langdon  became  so  enthused  that  he  paced  up 
and  down  the  room  as  he  spoke. 

"Peabody,  you  and  Stevens  and  I,"  continued 
Langdon,  "could  get  our  friends  together  and  right 
now  start  to  make  this  great  capital  of  our  great 
country  the  place  of  the  'square  deal,'  the  place 
where  give  and  take,  bargain  and  sale,  are  un- 
known. We  could  start  a  movement  that  wrould 
drive  out  all  secret  influences " 

The  secretary  noticed  Peabody's  involuntary 
start. 

"The  newspapers  would  help  us,"  went  on  Lang- 
don. "Public  opinion  would  be  with  us,  and  both 
houses  of  Congress  would  have  to  join  in  the  work 
if  we  went  out  in  front,  led  the  way  and  showed 
them  their  plain  duty.  And  I  tell  you,  Senator 
Peabody,  that  the  principles  that  gave  birth  to  this 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI       81 

country,  the  principles  of  truth,  honesty,  justice 
and  independence,  would  rule  in  Washington " 

"If  Washington  cared  anything  about  them, 
Langdon,"  interjected  the  Pennsylvanian. 

"That's  my  point,"  cried  the  Mississippian — "let 
us  teach  Washington  to  care  about  them !" 

"Langdon,  Langdon,"  said  Peabody,  patronizing- 
ly? "you've  seized  on  a  bigger  task  than  you  know. 
After  you  reform  Washington  you  will  have  to  go 
on  and  reform  human  nature,  human  instincts, 
every  human  being  in  the  country,  if  you  want  to 
make  politics  this  angelic  thing  you  describe.  It 
isn't  politics,  it's  humanity,  that's  wrong,"  waving 
aside  a  protest  from  Langdon. 

"Anyway,  your  idea  is  not  constitutional,  Lang- 
don," continued  Peabody.  "You  want  everybody 
to  have  a  share  in  the  national  government.  That 
wouldn't  meet  the  theory  of  centralization  woven 
into  our  political  system  by  its  founders.  They  in- 
tended that  our  Government  should  be  controlled 
by  a  limited  number  of  representatives,  so  that  au- 
thority can  be  fixed  and  responsibility  ascertained." 

"You  distort  my  meaning!"  cried  Langdon. 
"And,  Senator,  I  would  like  to  ask  why  so  many 
high-priced  constitutional  lawyers  who  enter  Con- 
gress spend  so  much  time  in  placing  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States  between  themselves  and 
their  duty,  sir,  between  the  people  and  their  Gov- 
ernment, sir,  between  the  nation  and  its  destiny? 
I  want  to  know  if  in  your  opinion  the  Constitution 
was  designed  to  throttle  expression  of  the  public 
will?" 

"Of  course  not.  That's  the  reason  you  and  I, 
Langdon,  and  the  others  are  elected  to  the  Senate," 
added  Peabody,  starting  to  leave.  Then  he  halted. 
"By  the  way,  Senator,"  he  said,  "I'll  do  my  best  to 


82      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

arrange  what  you  want  regarding  aluminium  hy- 
drates for  the  sake  of  the  South,  and  I'll  also  stand 
with  you  for  Altacoola  for  the  naval  base.  Our 
committee  is  to  make  its  report  to-morrow." 

Langdon  observed  the  penetrating  gaze  that  Pea- 
body  had  fixed  on  him.  It  seemed  to  betray  that 
the  Pennsylvanian's  apparently  careless  manner 
was  assumed. 

"H'm!"  coughed  Langdon,  glancing  at  Haines. 
"I'm  not  absolutely  committed  to  Altacoola  until 
I'm  sure  it's  the  best  place.  I'll  make  up  my  mind 
to-day  definitely,  and  I  think  it  will  be  for  Alta- 
coola." 

The  boss  of  the  Senate  went  out,  glaring  venom- 
ously at  Haines,  slamming  the  door. 

A  moment  later  a  page  boy  brought  in  a  card. 
"Colonel  J.  D.  Telfer,  Gulf  City,"  read  the  Senator. 

"Bud,"  he  remarked  to  the  secretary,  "I'm  going 
to  send  my  old  acquaintance,  Telfer,  Mayor  of  Gulf 
City,  in  here  for  you  to  talk  to.  He'll  want  to  know 
about  his  town's  chances  for  being  chosen  as  the 
naval  base.  I  must  hurry  away,  as  I  have  an  ap- 
pointment with  my  daughters  and  Mrs.  Spangler 
before  going  before  ways  and  means." 


CHAPTER  XI 

ON  THE  TRAIL  OF  THE  "INSIDERS" 

COLONEL  J.  D.  TELFER  ( J  .D.  standing  for  Jeffer- 
son Davis,  he  explained  proudly  to  Haines)  proved 
a  warm  advocate  of  the  doubtful  merits  of  Gulf 
City  as  a  hundred-million-dollar  naval  base.  His 
flushed  face  grew  redder,  his  long  white  hair  be- 
came disordered,  and  he  tugged  at  his  white  mus- 
tache continually  as  he  waxed  warmer  in  his  efforts 
to  impress  the  Senator's  secretary. 

"I  tell  you,  Mr.  Haines,  Gulf  City,  sah,  leads  all 
the  South  when  it  comes  to  choosin'  ground  fo'  a 
naval  base.  Her  vast  expanse  of  crystal  sea,  her 
miles  upon  miles  of  silvah  sands,  sah,  protected  by 
a  natural  harbor  and  th'  islands  of  Mississippi 
Sound,  make  her  th'  only  spot  to  be  considered. 
She's  God's  own  choice  and  the  people's,  too,  for  a 
naval  base." 

"But,  unfortunately,  Congress  also  has  something 
to  say  about  choosing  it,"  spoke  Haines. 

"To  be  shuah  they  do,"  said  Gulf  City's  Mayor, 
"but " 

"And  there  was  a  man  here  from  Altacoola  yes- 
terday," again  interrupted  the  secretary,  "who  said 
that  Gulf  City  was  fit  only  to  be  the  State  refuge 
for  aged  and  indigent  frogs." 

"Say,  they  ain't  a  man  in  Altacoola  wot  can 
speak  th'  truth,"  indignantly  shrieked  the  old  Col- 
onel, almost  losing  control  of  himself;  "because 

88 


84      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

their  heads  is  always  a-buzzin'  and  a-hummin'  from 
th'  quinine  they  have  to  take  to  keep  th'  fever  away, 
sah !" 

The  Mayor  sat  directly  in  front  of  Haines,  at  the 
opposite  side  of  his  desk.  Regaining  his  composure, 
he  suddenly  leaned  forward  and  half  whispered  to 
the  secretary : 

"Mah  young  friend,  don't  let  Senator  Langdon 
get  switched  away  from  Gulf  City  by  them  cheap 
skates  from  Altacoola,  Now,  if  you'll  get  th'  Sena- 
tor to  vote  fo'  Gulf  City  we'll  see — I'll  see,  sah,  as 
an  officer  of  th'  Gulf  City  Lan'  Company — that  you 
get  taken  ca-ah  of." 

Haines'  eyes  opened  wide. 

"Go  on,  Colonel ;  go  on  with  your  offer,"  he  said. 

"Well,  I'll  see  that  a  block  of  stock,  sah — a  big 
block — is  set  aside  fo'  Senator  Langdon  an'  another 
fo'  you,  too.  We've  made  this  ah-rangement  else- 
wheah.  We'll  outbid  Altacoola  everah  time. 
They're  po'  sports  an'  hate  to  give  up." 

"So  Altacoola  is  bidding,  too?"  excitedly  asked 
Haines. 

"Why,  of  co'se  it  is.  Ah  yo'  as  blind  as  that  o' 
ah  yo'  foolin'  with  me?"  questioned  Telfer,  sus- 
piciously. "Seems  to  me  yo'  ought  to  know  more 
about  that  end  of  it  than  a  fellah  clear  from  th' 
gulf." 

"Certainly,  certainly,"  mumbled  Haines,  impa- 
tiently, as  he  endeavored  to  associate  coherently,  in- 
telligently, in  "his  mind  these  startling  new  revela- 
tions of  Telfer  with  certain  incidents  he  had  pre- 
viously noted  in  the  operations  of  the  committee  on 
naval  affairs. 

Then  he  looked  across  at  the  Mayor  and  smiled. 
Apparently  he  had  heard  nothing  to  amaze  him. 

"Colonel,"  he  returned  calmly,  dropping  into  a 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      85 

Toice  that  sounded  of  pity  for  the  gray  hairs  of  the 
lobbyist,  "about  fifty  men  a  day  come  to  me  with 
propositions  like  that.  There  is  nothing  doing, 
Colonel.  I  couldn't  possibly  interest  Senator  Lang- 
don,  because  he  has  the  faculty  of  judging  for  him- 
self, and  he  would  be  prejudiced  against  either  town 
that  came  out  with  such  a  proposition." 

"Lan'  speculation  is  legitimate,"  protested  the 
Colonel,  cunningly. 

Haines  agreed. 

"Certainly — by  outsiders.  But  it's  d — d  thiev- 
ery when  engaged  in  by  any  one  connected  with 
putting  a  bill  through.  If  I  were  to  tell  Senator 
Langdon  what  you  have  told  me  it  would  decide 
him  unalterably  in  favor  of  Altacoola.  Senator 
Langdon,  sir,  is  one  of  the  few  men  in  Washington 
who  would  rather  be  thought  a  fool  than  a  grafter 
if  it  came  down  to  that." 

The  Mayor  of  Gulf  City  jumped  to  his  feet,  his 
face  blazing  in  rage,  not  in  shame. 

"Seems  to  me  yo're  mighty  fresh,  young  man," 
he  blustered.  "What  kind  of  politics  is  Langdon 
play  in'?" 

"Not  fresh,  Colonel ;  only  friendly.  I'm  just  tip- 
ping you  off  how  not  to  be  a  friend  to  Altacoola. 
As  to  his  politics,  the  Senator  will  answer  you  him- 
self." 

A  scornful  laugh  accompanied  Telfer's  reply. 
,  "Altacoola,  huh!  I  reckon  yo>  must  be  a  fool, 
after  all.  Why,  everybody  knows  of  the  speculatin* 
in  land  around  Altacoola,  and  everybody  knows  it 
ain't  outsiders  that's  doin'  it.  It's  the  insiders, 
right  here  in  Washington.  If  yo'  ain't  in,  yo'  can 
easy  get  a  latchkey.  Young  man,  yo'll  find  out 
things  some  day,  and  yo'll  drop  to  it  all. 

"I  guess  I  was  too  late  with  yo'.    That's  about 


86      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

the  size  of  it.  I  guess  Altacoola'll  talk  to  yo',"  went 
on  the  Mayor.  "If  that  feller  Fairbrother  of  Alta- 
coola  had  been  able  to  hold  his  tongue  maybe  I 
wouldn't  know  so  much.  But  now  I  know  what's 
what.  I  know  this — that  yo're  either  a  big  fool  or 
— an  insider.  Yo're  a  nice  young  feller.  I  have 
kind-a  taken  a  fancy  to  yo'.  I  like  to  see  yo'  young 
fellers  get  along  and  not  miss  yo'r  chances.  Come, 
my  boy,  get  wise  to  yo'rself,  get  wise  to  yo'rself! 
Climb  on  to  the  band  wagon  with  yo'  friends." 

Bud  concluded  that  he  might  be  able  to  get  more 
definite  information  out  of  Telfer  if  he  humored 
him  a  bit. 

"I  tell  you,  Colonel,"  he  finally  said,  "these  are 
pretty  grave  charges  you're  making,  but  I'll  tell 
you  confidentially,  owing  to  your  liking  for  me, 
that  it  is  not  yet  too  late  to  do  something  for  Gulf 
City.  Now,  just  suppose  you  and  I  dine  together 
to-night  early,  and  we'll  go  over  the  whole  ground 
to  see  how  things  lie.  Will  you?" 

The  Colonel  held  out  his  hand,  smiling  broadly. 
He  felt  that  at  last  he  had  won  the  secretary  over ; 
that  the  young  man  was  at  heart  anxious  to  take 
money  for  his  influence  with  the  Senator. 

"All  right,  my  boy,  yo're  on.  We'll  dine  together. 
Yo'  are  absolutely  certain  that  it  won't  be  too  late 
to  get  to  Senator  Langdon?" 

"Absolutely  positive.  I  wouldn't  make  a  mistake 
in  a  matter  like  this,  would  I,  unless  I  was  what 
you  said  I  was — a  fool?" 

"Of  course  not.  Oh,  yo're  a  slick  one.  I  like  to 
do  business  with  folks  like  yo'.  It's  mighty  edu- 
catin' !" 

"Thanks,"  answered  Bud,  dryly.  "It's  certain 
that  Langdon  won't  decide  which  place  he's  for  un- 


A.  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      87 

til  to-morrow.  I  promise  you  that  he  won't  decide 
until  after  I  have  my  talk  with  you." 

"Yo'  see,"  said  Teller,  "I  asked  that  question  be- 
cause, as  yo'  probably  know,  Congressman  Norton 
and  his  crowd  is  pretty  close  to  Senator  Lang- 
don " 

Haines  cut  him  short  with  a  gasp  of  surprise. 

"Norton !" 

Telfer,  wrinkling  his  forehead  incredulously, 
looked  at  Haines.  "Surest  thing  you  know,  my 
boy." 

Bud  turned  his  head  away  in  thought. 

"Oh,  leave  the  Norton  outfit  to  me.  I'll  fool 
them,"  he  finally  said. 

"Good." 

Telfer  shook  the  secretary's  hand  heartily. 

"Yo're  no  fool,  my  boy.  Anybody  can  see  that — 
after  they  get  to  know  yo'  all.  That's  what  comes 
of  bein'  one  of  them  smooth  New  Yorkers.  They 
'pear  mighty  sanctimonious  on  th'  outside,  but  on 
th'  inside  they're  the  real  goods,  all  right." 

The  lobbyist  hurried  away,  his  bibulous  soul 
swelling  with  satisfaction.  He  was  sure  of  triumph- 
ing over  Altacoola,  and  he  was  willing  to  pay  the 
price. 

Haines  sank  back  into  his  chair.  "I  wonder  what 
Washington  'insiders,' "  he  murmured,  "are  specu- 
lating in  Altacoola  land.  Telfer  mentions  Norton's 
name.  I  wonder " 

The  door  opened,  and  before  him  stood  Carolina 
Langdon. 

"Ah,  Miss  Langdon/'  he  exclaimed,  "I  am  glad 
to  see  you !" 

She  walked  to  him  and  extended  cordially  a  slen- 
der gloved  hand. 

"This  is  a  real  pleasure,  Mr.  Haines,"  she  began. 


"I've  been  waiting  to  talk  to  you  for  some  time.  It's 
about  something  important." 

"Something  important,"  smiled  Haines.  "You 
want  to  see  me  about  something  important?  Well, 
let  me  tell  you  a  secret.  Every  time  I  see  you  it  is 
an  important  occasion  to  me."  / 

Carolina  Langdon  had  never  appeared  more 
charming,  more  beautiful  to  young  Haines  than  she 
did  that  day.  Perhaps  she  appeared  more  inspir- 
ing because  of  the  contrast  her  presence  afforded 
to  the  unpleasant  episodes  through  which  he  had 
just  passed ;  also,  Carolina  was  dressed  in  her  most 
becoming  street  gown,  which  she  well  realized,  as 
she  was  enacting  a  carefully  planned  part  with  the 
unfortunate  secretary. 

His  frankness  and  the  sincere  admiration  that 
shone  in  his  eyes  caused  her  to  falter  momentarily, 
almost  made  her  weaken  in  her  purpose,  but  she 
made  an  effort  and  secured  a  firmer  grip  on  herself, 
for  she  must  play  a  role  that  would  crush  to  earth 
the  air  castles  this  young  secretary  was  building, 
a  role  that  would  crush  the  ideals  of  this  young 
optimist  as  well. 


CHAPTER   XII 

THE  CUBE  OP  A  WOMAN'S  LOVB 

CAROLINA  had  come  to  find  out  from  Haines,  if 
possible,  how  her  father  was  going  to  vote  on  the 
naval  base  and  to  induce  the  secretary  to  persuade 
him  to  stand  for  Altacoola — if  there  seemed  danger 
that  he  would  vote  for  another  site.  That  was  her 
scheme,  for  Carolina  had  put  f  25,000  into  Altacoola 
land — money  left  by  her  mother.  Norton  had  per- 
suaded Carolina  to  invest  in  the  enterprise  to  de- 
fraud the  Government,  promising  her  $50,000  clear 
profit.  How  much  she  could  do  in  Washington  so- 
ciety with  that! 

The  continued  uncertainty  over  her  father's  final 
attitude  had  strained  her  nerves  almost  to  the 
breaking,  for  the  success  of  the  conspiracy  de- 
pended on  his  vote.  Not  even  the  words  of  Norton, 
her  future  husband,  could  reassure  her.  Her  worry 
was  increased  by  the  knowledge  of  Randolph's  in- 
vestment of  her  father's  $50,000. 

That  Carolina  must  sacrifice  Haines  on  the  altar 
of  her  consuming  desire  for  money,  for  a  higher 
worldly  position,  was  an  unimportant  considera- 
tion. He  stood  in  the  way.  Any  moment  he  might 
discover  the  existence  of  the  Altacoola  scheme,  he 
would  immediately  tell  her  father,  and  she  knew 
her  father  would  immediately  decide  against  Alta- 
coola— the  bright  hopes  of  her  future  would  turn 
to  ashes.  Norton's  money  as  well  was  invested  in 

89 


90      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

Altacoola.  He,  too,  would  be  ruined.  She  was 
sure  that  she  loved  Norton,  but  she  could  not  marry, 
a  penniless  man. 

Carolina  resumed  the  conversation. 

"It  isn't  anything  so  very  important,  Mr.  Haines. 
It's  about  father." 

Haines  beamed. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  report,  Miss  Langdon,"  he 
bowed,  "that  your  father  is  making  the  very  best 
kind  of  a  Senator." 

The  girl  hesitated. 

"Yes ;  he  might,  if  he  had  some  ambition." 

"Don't  worry !  If  it  comes  down  to  that,  I  have 
ambition  for  two.  You  want  him  to  be  a  success, 
don't  you?  Well,  he  is  the  biggest  kind  of  a  suc- 
cess." 

"I  never  believed  that  he  would  be,"  confessed  the 
daughter. 

Haines  laughed. 

"Why,  do  you  realize  that  to-day  he  is  one  of  the 
most  popular  men  in  public  life  throughout  the 
country;  that  'What  does  Langdon  think?'  has  be- 
come the  watchword  of  the  big  body  of  independents 
who  want  honesty  and  decent  government  without 
graft? 

"I  tell  you  that's  a  big  thing,  Miss  Langdon. 
That's  success — real  success  in  politics,  especially 
in  Washington  politics. 

"Now,  if  there's  anything  else  you  want  him  to 
have,  I'll  see  that  he  gets  it.  I'll  try  to  get  it  for 
him" — he  paused  a  minute,  then  added,  with 
heartfelt  meaning  in  his  voice — "and  for  you,  Miss 
Langdon." 

Carolina  played  coquettishly  with  the  secretary. 

"For  me,  Mr.  Haines?"  she  questioned,  archly, 
with  an  effective  glance  into  his  eyes. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      91 

Bud's  pulses  began  to  throb  violently — to  leap. 

"Yes,"  he  exclaimed,  unsteadily,  "for  you,  and 
you  know  it.  That's  the  inspiration  now,  my  in- 
spiration— the  chance  of  winning  your  belief  in  me, 
of  winning  something  more,  the  biggest  thing  I  ever 
thought  to  win — because,  Miss  Langdon — Carolina 
— I  love  you."  He  bent  over  and  seized  the  girl's 
hand.  "Ever  since  the  day  I  first  saw  you  I " 

She  shook  her  head  indulgently  and  in  a  moment 
drew  her  hand  from  his. 

"You  mustn't  be  so  serious,  Mr.  Haines.  You 
don't  understand  Southern  girls  at  all.  We  are  not 
just  like  Northern  girls.  We  are  used  to  being  made 
love  to  from  the  time  we  are  knee-high.  Some- 
times, I  fear,  we  flirt  a  little,  but  we  don't  mean 
any  harm.  All  girls  flirt — a  little." 

"But  somebody  wins  even  the  Southern  girls," 
declared  Haines,  eagerly. 

The  girl's  face  became  serious,  earnest,  sincere. 

"Yes,  somebody  does,  always,"  she  said.  "And 
when  a  Southern  girl  is  won  she  stays  won,  Mr. 
Haines." 

"And  I  have  a  chance  to  win?"  questioned  the  de- 
termined young  Northerner. 

Carolina  smiled  sweetly  and  expressively. 

"Who  knows?  First  make  my  father  even  a  big- 
ger success — that's  first.  Oh,  I  wonder  if  you  can 
realize  what  all  this  life  means  to  me!  If  you  can 
realize  what  those  years  of  stagnating  on  the  plan- 
tation meant  to  me !  No  man  would  have  endured 
it!"  she  exclaimed  bitterly.  "I  am  more  of  a  man 
than  a  woman  in  some  ways ;  I'm  ambitious.  From 
the  time  I  was  a  little  girl  I've  wanted  the  world, 
power,  fame,  money.  I  want  them  still.  I  mean  to 
get  them  somehow,  anyhow.  If  I  can't  get  them 
myself,  some  one  must  get  them  for  me." 


92      A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"And  love?"  suggested  the  man.  "You  are  leav- 
ing love  out.  Suppose  I  get  all  these  things  for 
you?" 

Bud's  pounding  heart  almost  stopped.  He  could 
scarcely  gain  his  breath  as  he  saw  creep  into  Caro- 
lina's eyes  what  he  believed  to  be  the  light  of  hope 
for  him,  the  light  even  of  a  woman's  promise. 

"Who  knows,  Mr.  Haines?  There's  no  reward 
guaranteed.  There  may  be  others  trying,"  she  an- 
swered. 

Haines  laughed — the  strong,  hopeful,  fighting 
laugh  of  the  man  who  would  combat  the  boss  of  the 
Senate  on  ground  of  the  boss'  own  choosing. 

"All  right !"  he  cried.  "If  it's  an  open  fight  I'll 
enlist.  I'll  give  them  all  a  run.  What  are  your 
orders?" 

Carolina  appeared  indifferent. 

"I  don't  know  that  I  have  any  particular  orders, 
sir  knight,  except  to  see  that  my  father  does  all  he 
can  for  the  Altacoola  naval  base." 

Haines  paused,  seized  by  a  sudden  tremor. 

"The  Altacoola  naval  base?"  he  stammered. 
"Well,  all  I  can  say  is  that  the  Senator  will  do 
what  he  thinks  right.  That  might  bring  power  and 
fame — a  right  decision  in  this  case — but  it  can't 
bring  money." 

Carolina  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"Money?"  She  laughed  with  affected  careless- 
ness. "Well,  we'll  have  to  let  the  money  take  care 
of  itself  for  a  time.  But  I  do  want  him  to  vote  for 
Altacoola,  because  I  believe  that  will  be  the  best  for 
him.  You  believe  in  Altacoola,  don't  you?" 

Haines  hesitated,  then  answered: 

"Well,  between  the  two  sites  merely  as  sites  Alta- 
coola seems  to  me  rather  better." 

Miss  Langdon  held  out  her  hand  impulsively. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      93 

"Then  it  will  be  Altacoola !"  she  cried.  "Thank 
you,  Mr.  Haines.  We  are  partners,  then,  for  Alta- 
coola." 

The  young  man  grasped  her  hand  earnestly. 

"I'd  like  to  be  your  partner  for  good,  Carolina !" 
he  cried. 

They  stood  there  close  together,  holding  each 
other's  hands,  looking  into  each  other's  eyes,  when 
the  door  opened  and  in  came  Charles  Norton. 


CHAPTER   XIII 

AN  OLD-FASHIONED  FATHER 

CONGRESSMAN  NORTON  was  startled  at  the  sight 
of  Carolina  and  Haines  apparently  so  wrapped  up 
in  each  other.  Perhaps  she  was  getting  interested 
in  the  handsome,  interfering  secretary.  That  a 
woman  sometimes  breaks  her  promise  to  wed  he 
well  knew.  Plainly  Carolina  was  carrying  things 
too  far  for  a  girl  who  was  the  promised  wife  of  an- 
other. 

Carolina  and  Haines  showed  surprise  at  Norton's 
entrance. 

The  Congressman  advanced  and  spoke  sneering- 
ly,  his  demeanor  marking  him  to  be  in  a  dangerous 
mood. 

"Do  I  intrude?"  he  drawled,  deliberately. 

Carolina  drew  away  her  hands  from  Haines  and 
faced  the  newcomer. 

"Intrude!"  she  exclaimed,  contemptuously,  in  a 
tone  that  Norton  construed  as  in  his  favor  and 
Haines  in  his  own. 

"Intrude !"  Haines  laughed,  sarcastically,  feeling 
that  now  he  was  leader  in  the  race  for  love  against 
this  Mississippi  representative,  who  was,  he  knew, 
a  subservient  tool  and  a  taker  of  bribes.  "You 
surely  do  intrude,  Norton.  Wouldn't  any  man 
who  had  interrupted  a  tete-a-tete  another  man  was 
having  with  Miss  Langdon  be  intruding?" 

"I  suppose  I  can't  deny  that,"  he  replied. 

94 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      95 

The  secretary  smiled  again. 

"I'll  match,  you  to  see  who  stays,"  he  said. 

But  Norton's  turn  to  defeat  his  rival  had  come. 
He  held  out  a  paper  to  Haines. 

''Senator  Langdon  gave  me  this  for  you.  I  reckon 
I  don't  have  to  match." 

The  secretary  opened  the  note  to  read : 

"Where  in  thunder  does  that  hydrate  come  from 
— South  America  or  Russia?  How  much  off  on  the 
tariff  on  the  creature  do  we  want?  Come  over  to 
the  committee  room,  where  I  am,  right  away.  Say 
it's  an  urgent  message  and  get  in  with  a  tip." 

The  secretary  looked  up,  with  a  laugh. 

"You  win,  Norton.  I'm  off.  Good-by."  And  he 
started  on  a  run  to  the  Senator's  aid. 

Norton  turned  angrily  on  the  girl  as  the  door 
closed. 

"See  here,  Carolina,"  he  cried,  "what  do  you 
mean  by  letting  that  fellow  make  love  to  you?" 

Carolina  Langdon  would  not  permit  rebuke,  even 
from  the  man  she  cared  for.  She  tossed  back  her 
head  and  said,  coolly: 

"Why  shouldn't  I  let  him  make  love  to  me  if  I 
choose?" 

"You  know  why,"  exclaimed  Norton,  his  dark 
face  flushing  sullenly.  "Because  I  love  you  and  you 
love  me!"  And  he  seized  her  and  pressed  her  to 
him.  "That  is  why!"  he  cried,  and  he  kissed  her 
again  and  again. 

"Yes,  I  love  you,  Charlie ;  you  know  that,"  Caro- 
lina said,  simply.  She  was  conquered  by  the  South- 
erner's masterfulness. 

"Then  why  do  you  stand  for  that  whippersnap- 
per's  talk?"  asked  Norton,  perplexedly. 


96       A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

Carolina  laughed. 

"Don't  you  see,  Charlie,  I  have  to  stand  for  it? 
I  have  to  stand  for  it  for  your  sake,  for  Randolph's 
sake,  for  my  own  sake,  for  all  our  sakes.  You  know 
the  influence  he  has  over  father. 

"He  can  make  father  do  anything  he  wants,  and 
suppose  I  don't  lead  him  on?  Where's  our  project? 
Let  him  suspect  a  thing  and  let  him  go  to  father, 
and  you  know  what  will  happen.  Father  would 
turn  against  that  Altacoola  scheme  in  a  moment. 
He'd  beggar  himself,  if  it  were  necessary,  rather 
than  let  a  single  one  of  us  make  a  dollar  out  of  a 
thing  he  had  to  decide." 

"You're  right,  I  reckon,  Carolina,"  said  Norton, 
dejectedly.  "Your  father  is  a  real  type  of  the 
Southern  gentleman.  He  hasn't  seen  any  real 
money  in  so  long  he  can't  even  bear  to  think  of  it. 
Somebody's  got  to  make  money  out  of  this,  and  we 
should  be  the  ones." 

"We'd  lose  frightfully,  Charlie,  if  they  changed 
to  Gulf  City,  wouldn't  we?"  said  the  girl,  appre- 
hensively. "I'm  horribly  afraid  sometimes,  Charlie. 
That's  why  I  came  here  to-day.  I  wanted  to  influ- 
ence Haines,  to  keep  him  straight.  Is  there  any 
danger  that  they'll  change?  You  don't  think  there 
is,  do  you?" 

"Of  course  not,  child.  Stevens  has  got  his  money 
in,  and  Peabody.  There  are  only  five  on  the  com- 
mittee. It's  bound  to  go  through." 

"Then  why  is  father  so  important  to  them?" 
asked  Carolina. 

"It's  past  my  understanding,  Carolina.  I  don't 
see  how  he's  done  it,  but  the  whole  country  has 
come  to  believe  whatever  your  father  does  is  right, 
and  they've  got  to  have  him." 

"And  father  is  completely  under  the  domination 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      97 

of  this  secretary,"  murmured    the    girl,  thought- 
fully. 

Norton  nodded. 

"We've  got  to  get  rid  of  him,  Carolina.  That's 
all  there  is  to  it.  He  has  to  go !  When  it  comes  to 
bossing  the  Senator  and  making  love  to  you,  too, 
he's  getting  too  strong." 

>  "How  can  you  do  it?"  she  asked.  "You  know 
when  father  likes  any  one  he  won't  believe  a  thing 
against  him." 

Norton  agreed,  sorrowfully. 

"That's  right.  Seems  like  the  Senator's  coming 
to  think  more  of  this  fellow  than  he  does  of  his  own 
family.  WThy,  I  wouldn't  be  surprised  if  he'd  even 
let  one  of  you  girls  marry  him  if  he  wanted  to  marry 
you." 

"We'd  have  something  to  say  about  that,"  Caro- 
lina laughed,  amusedly.  "Do  you  think  that  Hope 
or  I  could  ever  care  for  a  man  like  this  fellow?  Of 
course  not.  This  Altacoola  business  must  go 
through  right.  It  would  be  too  cruel  not  to  have 
it  so.  And  then " 

"And  then  you  and  I'll  be  married  at  once,  Caro- 
lina, whether  your  father  likes  it  or  not,"  ended 
Norton  for  her.  "With  Altacoola  safe,  we  can  do  as 
we  please,  as  between  us  we'll  be  rich.  What  does 
it  matter  how  we  get  the  money,  as  long  as  we  get 
it?" 


CHAPTER  XIV 

WHEN  A  DAUGHTER  BETRAYS  HER  FATHER 

BUD  returned  to  find  Miss  Langdon  and  Norton 
still  in  the  room.  New  buoyancy,  new  courage, 
thrilled  in  his  veins.  He  would  give  this  Congress- 
man the  battle  of  his  life  for  this  prize,  of  that 
he  was  confident. 

"I  have  an  engagement  with  Mrs.  Holcomb,  Sena- 
tor Holcomb's  wife,"  she  said,  "so  I  must  hurry 
away,  but  I  expect  to  be  back  to  see  father." 

"I  think  I'll  just  wait,"  suggested  Norton.  "I 
have  to  see  the  Senator  as  soon  as  possible,  and  he 
ought  to  return  from  that  ways  and  means  com- 
mittee meeting  pretty  soon." 

When  Carolina  had  gone  a  slight  feeling  of  con- 
straint settled  over  the  two. 

"The  Senator's  pretty  busy  these  days  with  his 
naval  base  matter  coming  up,  isn't  he?" 

"Yes;  keeps  him  pretty  busy  receiving  delega- 
tions from  Altacoola  and  Gulf  City  and  patting 
them  both  on  the  back,"  said  Haines.  "Had  a  man 
from  Gulf  City  in  this  morning  with  some  pretty 
strong  arguments." 

The  secretary  watched  Norton  keenly  to  note  the 
effect  of  this  hint  in  favor  of  Gulf  City. 

"Gulf  City !"  Norton  sneered.  "Shucks !  Who'd 
put  a  naval  base  on  a  bunch  of  mud  flats?  I  reckon 
those  Gulf  City  fellows  are  wasting  their  time." 

98 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI      99 

"Think  so?"  suggested  Haines.  "Are  you  abso- 
lutely sure?" 

Norton  started. 

"Why,  you  don't  mean  to  tell  me,"  he  exclaimed, 
"that  Senator  Langdon  would  vote  for  Gulf  City 
for  the  naval  base?" 

"I  don't  mean  to  tell  you  anything,  Congress- 
man," was  the  cool  rejoinder.  "It's  not  my  busi- 
ness. The  Senator's  the  one  who  does  the  talking." 

An  ugly  sneer  wrinkled  the  Congressman's  face. 

"Well,  I'm  glad  he  attends  to  his  own  business 
and  doesn't  trust  too  many  people,"  he  said 
pointedly. 

The  secretary  smiled  in  puzzling  fashion. 

"That's  exactly  why  I  don't  talk,  Congressman," 
he  said  pleasantly.  "The  Senator  doesn't  trust  too 
many  people.  If  he  did,  there  might  be  too  much 
money  made  out  of  land  speculation.  Senator 
Langdon  dosen't  happen  to  be  one  of  those  Sena- 
tors who  care  for  that  kind  of  thing." 

"I  suppose  you  think  you're  pretty  strong  with 
the  Senator,"  ventured  the  Mississippian. 

"Tell  you  the  truth,  I  haven't  thought  very  much 
about  it,"  replied  Haines,  "but,  if  you  come  right 
down  to  it,  I  guess  I  am  pretty  strong." 

"Suppose  you've  influenced  him  in  the  naval  base 
business,  then." 

Still  the  secretary  smiled,  keeping  his  temper 
under  the  adroit  attack. 

"Well,  I  think  he'd  listen  to  me  with  consider- 
able interest." 

"But  you're  for  Altacoola,  of  course," 

Haines  shook  his  head. 

"No,  I  can't  say  that  I'm  for  Altacoola,  Fellow 
who  was  in  here  this  morning  put  up  a  pretty  good 
argument,  to  my  mind,  for  Gulf  City.  In  fact, 


100    A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

he  made  it  pretty  strong.  Seemed  to  show  it  was 
all  to  my  interest  to  go  in  with  Gulf  City.  Think 
I'll  have  to  investigate  a  little  more.  I  tell  you, 
Norton,"  spoke  Haines  in  a  confidential  manner, 
"this  land  speculation  fever  is  a  frightful  thing. 
While  I  was  talking  to  this  fellow  from  Gulf  City 
I  almost  caught  it  myself.  Probably  if  I  met  the 
head  of  the  Altacoola  speculation  I  might  catch 
the  fever  from  him  too." 

"Why  don't  you  put  your  money  into  Gulf  City 
and  lose  it,  then?"  replied  Norton,  nodding  his 
head  scornfully.  "That'd  be  a  good  lesson  for  a  ris- 
ing young  politician  like  you." 

Senator  Langdon's  secretary  peered  straight  into 
Norton's  eyes. 

"Because,  Congressman,"  he  said,  "if  I  were  to 
put  my  money  in  Gulf  City  perhaps  I  wouldn't  lose 
it." 

The  Southerner  took  a  step  forward,  leaned  over 
and  glared  angrily  at  Haines.  His  face  whitened. 

"You  don't  mean  that  you  could  swing  Langdon 
into  Gulf  City?"  he  gasped. 

Haines  smiled. 

"I  can't  say  that,  Norton,  but  I  guess  people  in- 
terested in  Altacoola  would  hate  to  have  me  try." 

"I  didn't  know  you  were  that  kind,  Haines,"  said 
Norton,  his  virtue  aroused  at  the  thought  of  los- 
ing his  money.  "So  you're  playing  the  game  like 
all  the  rest?" 

"Why  shouldn't  I?"  shrugged  the  secretary.  "I 
guess  perhaps  I'm  a  little  sore  because  the  Alta- 
coola people  haven't  even  paid  me  the  compliment 
of  thinking  I  had  any  influence,  so  they  can't  ex- 
pect me  to  work  for  them.  The  Gulf  City  people 
have.  As  things  stand,  Gulf  City  looks  pretty  good 
to  me." 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    lOli 

"Is  this  straight  talk?"  exclaimed  Norton. 

"Take  it  or  leave  it,"  retorted  Bud. 

The  Mississippian  leaned  with  his  hands  on  the 
desk. 

"Well,  Haines,  if  yon're  like  the  rest  and  are 
really  interested  in  Altacoola,  I  don't  know  that 
you'd  have  to  go  very  far  to  talk." 

"You  know  something  of  Altacoola  lands,  then, 
Norton?"  said  Robert,  tingling  with  suppressed  ex- 
citement. He  felt  that  he  was  getting  close  to  real 
facts  in  a  colossal  "deal." 

Norton  was  sure  of  his  man  now. 

"Well,  I  am  in  touch  with  some  people  who've 
got  lands  and  options  on  more.  I  might  fix  it  for 
you  to  come  in,"  he  whispered. 

Haines  shook  his  head. 

"You  know  I  haven't  much  money,  Norton.  All 
I  could  put  in  would  be  my  influence.  Who  are 
these  people?  Are  they  cheap  little  local  folks  or 
are  they  real  people  here  who  have  some  power  and 
can  do  something  that  is  worth  while?" 

"Do  I  look  like  I'd  fool  with  cheap  skates, 
Haines?  They're  the  real  people.  I  think,  Haines, 
that  either  Senator  Stevens  or  Senator  Peabody 
would  advise  you  that  you  are  safe." 

"Ah!  Then  Stevens  and  Peabody  are  the  ones. 
They'll  make  it  Altacoola,  then  sell  to  the  Govern- 
ment at  a  big  advance  and  move  to  'Easy  Street.' " 

"That's  right,"  agreed  Norton. 

Bud  Haines  straightened  abruptly.  The  expres- 
sion on  his  face  gave  Norton  a  sudden  chill — made 
him  tremble. 

"Now  I've  got  you,"  cried  the  secretary.  "You've 
given  yourself  dead  away.  I've  known  all  along 
you're  a  d — d  thief,  Norton,  and  you've  just 
proved  it  to  me  yourself." 


102    A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"What  do  you  mean?"  Norton  was  clenching  his 
fist.  "Words  like  that  mean  fight  to  a  Southerner !" 

"I  mean  that  before  Senator  Langdon  goes  one 
Step  further  in  this  matter  he  shall  know  that  his 
colleagues  and  you  are  thieves,  Mr.  Norton,  try- 
ing to  use  him  for  a  cat's-paw  to  steal  for  them 
from  the  Government.  I  suspected  something  this 
morning  when  Gulf  City  tried  to  bribe  me  and  a 
visitor  from  there  gave  me  what  turns  out  to  be  a 
pretty  good  tip." 

"So  that  was  your  dirty  trick,"  exclaimed  the 
Congressman  as  he  regained  his  composure. 

"Set  a  make-believe  thief  to  catch  a  real  one," 
laughed  the  secretary.  "Very  good  trick,  I  think." 

"I'll  make  you  pay  for  that !"  cried  Norton,  shak- 
ing his  fist. 

"All  right.  Send  in  your  bill  any  old  time," 
laughed  Haines.  "The  sooner  the  better.  Mean- 
time I'm  going  to  talk  to  Langdon." 

He  had  started  for  the  door  when  Carolina  Lang- 
don re-entered,  followed  by  her  brother  Randolph. 

"Wait  a  minute,"  said  Norton,  with  unexpected 
quietness.  "I  wouldn't  do  what  you're  about  to  do, 
Mr.  Haines." 

"Of  course  you  wouldn't,"  sneered  Haines. 

"I  mean  that  you  will  be  making  a  mistake, 
Haines,  to  tell  the  Senator  what  you  have  learned," 
rejoined  the  Southerner,  struggling  to  keep  calm  at 
this  critical  moment  when  all  was  at  stake.  He 
realized,  further,  that  now  was  the  time  to  put 
Haines  out  of  the  way — if  that  were  possible.  "A 
mistake,  Mr.  Haines,"  he  continued,  "because,  you 
see,  you  don't  know  as  much  as  you  think.  I 
wouldn't  talk  to  Langdon  if  I  were  you.  It  will 
only  embarrass  him  and  do  no  good,  because  Lang- 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    103 

don's  money  is  in  this  scheme,  too,  and  Langdon's 
in  the  same  boat  with  the  rest  of  us." 

Haines  stopped  short  at  this  astounding  charge 
against  his  chief. 

"Norton,  you  lie!  I'll  helieve  it  of  Langdon 
when  he  tells  me  so;  not  otherwise." 

Norton  turned  to  Randolph. 

"Perhaps  you'll  believe  Mr.  Langdon's  son,  Mr. 
Haines?" 

Randolph  Langdon  stepped  forward. 

"It's  true,  Haines,"  he  said;  "my  father's  money 
is  in  Altacoola  lands." 

Haines  looked  him  up  and  down,  with  a  sneer. 

"Your  money  may  be,"  he  said.  "I  don't  think 
you're  a  bit  too  good  for  it,  but  your  father  is  a 
different  kind." 

Carolina  Langdon  stood  at  the  back  of  the  room, 
nervously  awaiting  the  moment  when,  she  knew, 
she  would  be  forced  into  the  unpleasant  discussion. 

"I  reckon  you  can't  refuse  to  believe  Miss  Lang- 
don," drawled  Norton,  with  aggravated  delibera- 
tion. 

"Of  course,"  stammered  Haines,  "I'd  believe  it 
if  Miss  Langdon  says  it's  so." 

The  Congressman  turned  toward  Carolina  as  he 
spoke  and  fixed  on  her  a  tense  look  which  spelled 
as  plainly  as  though  spoken,  "It's  all  in  your 
hands,  my  fortune — yours." 

She  slowly  drew  across  the  room.  Haines  could 
hardly  conceal  the  turmoil  of  his  mind.  The  world 
seemed  suddenly  snatched  from  around  him,  leav- 
ing her  figure  alone  before  him.  Would  she  affirm 
what  Norton  and  Randolph  had  said?  He  must 
believe  her.  But  surely  it  was  impossible  that 
she 


104     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

Carolina  played  for  time.  She  feared  the  mak- 
ing of  a  false  move. 

"I  don't  understand?"  she  said  inquiringly  to 
Norton. 

He  calmly  began  an  elaborate  explanation. 

"Miss  Langdon,  this  secretary  has  discovered 
that  there  is  a  certain  perfectly  legitimate  venture 
in  Altacoola  lands  being  carried  on  through  cer- 
tain influential  people  we  know  and  by  me.  The 
blood  of  the  young  reformer  is  boiling.  He  is  going 
straight  to  your  father  with  the  facts. 

"I  have  tried  to  explain  to  him  how  it  will  need- 
lessly embarrass  the  Senator  and  spoil  his  own 
future.  He  won't  believe  me.  He  won't  believe 
your  brother.  Perhaps  you  can  make  it  clear." 

At  last  Carolina  nerved  herself  to  speak. 

"You  had  better  not  go  to  my  father,  Mr. 
Haines.  It  will  do  no  good.  He — is — in — the  deal ! 
You  must  believe  me  when  I  tell  you  so." 

The  girl  took  her  eyes  from  the  secretary.  He 
was  plainly  suffering. 


CHAPTER  XV 

CAROLINA  LANGDON'S  ADVICE 

"LET  me  speak  to  Mr.  Haines  alone,"  said  Caro- 
lina to  Norton  and  her  brother. 

Norton  turned  a  triumphant  grin  at  Randolph 
as  he  beckoned  him  out  and  whispered:  "Leave 
him  to  her.  It's  all  right.  That  New  York  dude 
has  been  riding  for  a  fall — he's  going  to  get  it 
now." 

"I  am  sorry,  so  sorry  this  should  have  occurred, 
Mr.  Haines,"  Carolina  said  gently. 

The  secretary  looked  up  slowly,  his  face  drawn. 
It  was  an  effort  for  him  to  speak. 

"I  can't  understand  it,"  he  said.  "I  mightn't 
have  thought  so  much  of  this  a  month  ago,  but 
I  have  come  to  love  the  Senator  almost  as  .a  son, 
and  to  think  that  he  could  be  like  the  rest  of  that 
bunch  is  awful." 

"You  are  too  much  of  an  idealist,  Mr.  Haines," 
said  the  girl. 

"And  you?  What  do  you  think  of  it?"  he  de- 
manded. 

The  girl's  glance  wavered. 

"Don't  idealize  me  too  much,  either,  Mr.  Haines. 
I  didn't  think  it  was  much.  Perhaps  I  don't  under- 
stand business  any  too  well." 

"But  you  see  now?"  insisted  the  man. 

The  girl  looked  up  at  him  sorrowfully. 

105 


106     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"Yes;  I  see  at  least  that  you  and  father  can  never 
work  together  now." 

Haines  nodded  affirmatively. 

"I  suppose  so.  I'm  thinking  of  that.  How  am 
I  to  leave  him?  We've  been  so  close.  I've  been  so 
fond  of  him.  I  don't  know  how  I  could  tell  him." 

In  girlish,  friendly  fashion  Carolina  rested  her 
hand  on  his  arm. 

"Won't  you  take  my  advice,  Mr.  Haines?  Go 
away  without  seeing  him.  Just  leave  a  note  to 
say  you  have  gone.  He  will  understand.  It  will 
be  easier  for  both  that  way — easier  for  him,  easier 
for  you."  She  paused,  looking  at  him  appealingly 
as  she  ended  very  softly,  "And  easier  for  me,  Mr. 
Haines." 

He  looked  at  her  thoughtfully. 

"Easier  for  you?"  he  said.  "Very  well,  I'll  do 
it  that  way." 

The  secretary  stepped  slowly  to  his  desk,  sat 
down  and  started  to  write  the  note.  Carolina 
watched  him  curiously. 

"What  will  you  do,"  she  asked,  "now  that  you 
have  given  up  this  position?" 

"Oh,  I  can  always  go  back  to  newspaper  work," 
he  answered  without  looking  up. 

The  term  "newspaper  work"  gave  Carolina  a 
shock.  She  had  forgotten  that  this  man  had  been 
a  reporter.  Here  he  was  turned  loose  with  the 
knowledge  of  this  "deal,"  which  she  knew  would  be 
popular  material  for  newspapers  to  print.  She 
must  gain  still  another  point,  and  she  felt  that 
she  had  enough  power  to  win  against  him. 

"I'm  going  to  ask  you  still  another  favor,"  she 
said. 

Bud  returned  her  look  with  a  bitter  smile. 

"What  is  it?" 


&  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    107 

"You  have  learned  about  this — this  land  matter 
and " 

"Oh,  yes!  I  can  guess.  You  want  me  to  keep 
quiet  about  it — to  hush  it  up,"  a  shade  of  scorn 
in  his  tone. 

"I  only  asked  this  so  that  you  would  not  dis- 
grace me,"  she  pleaded. 

Disillusioned  at  last,  robbed  of  his  lifelong  op- 
timism, shorn  of  his  ideals,  even  his  love — for  he 
began  to  despise  this  beatiful,  misguided  woman — 
Haines  sat  broken  in  spirit,  thinking  how  quickly 
the  brightness  of  life  fades  to  blackness. 

"Very  well,"  he  said  sadly.  "I  suppose  you  are 
innocent.  I'll  save  you.  If  they're  all — your 
father,  too — crooked,  why  shouldn't  I  be  crooked? 
All  right ;  I  won't  say  anything." 

"I  only  ask  you  not  to  disgrace  me,"  pleaded  the 
girl.  "You  will  promise  that?" 

"It's  a  promise." 

She  sighed  in  relief. 

"Father  will  be  coming  back  soon,"  she  said. 
"You  won't  want  to  see  him." 

Haines  arose. 

"No,  I  won't  want  to  see  him.  Give  him  thia 
note.  I'll  have  to  come  back  while  he's  away  to 
clear  up  some  things.  Good-by." 

Haines  bowed  and  hurried  from  the  room 
through  a  side  doorway  just  as  Senator  Langdon 
came  in  through  the  main  entrance. 

"Bud !  Bud !"  he  called,  but  the  secretary  did  not 
halt. 

Carolina  Langdon  stood  with  Haines'  note  in  her 
hand,  wondering  at  what  she  had  done.  She  re- 
gretted having  become  entangled  in  the  wars  of 
men  in  Washington.  She  saw  that  the  man's  game 
was  played  too  strongly,  too  furiously  fast,  for  most 


108    A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

women  to  enter,  yet  she  rejoiced  that  the  coveted 
fortune  had  not  been  lost  She  was  sorry  that  her 
means  of  saving  it  had  not  been  less  questionable. 
She  saw  that  ambition  and  honesty,  ambition  and 
truth,  with  difficulty  follow  the  same  path. 

Senator  Langdon's  face  was  unusually  grave  as 
he  came  to  greet  Carolina,  Lines  showed  in  his 
face  that  the  daughter  had  never  noticed  before. 

She  saw  Norton  and  Randolph,  who  had  fol- 
lowed him,  exchange  significant  glances — jubilant 
glances — and  wondered  what  new  development 
they  had  maneuvered. 

"He's  gone  without  a  word,"  the  Senator  sighed. 
"Well,  perhap's  that's  best," 

"He  left  a  note  for  you,"  said  the  girl,  hand- 
ing him  the  letter  which  Haines  had  given  her. 

Langdon  opened  it  and  read : 

"I  am  giving  up  the  job.  You  can  understand 
why.  The  least  said  about  it  between  us  the  better. 
I  am  sorry.  That's  all.  BUD  HAINES." 

Slowly  he  read  the  letter  a  second  time. 

"And  he  was  making  the  best  kind  of  a  secre- 
tary, I  thought." 

Divining  that  something  against  Haines  had 
been  told  her  father,  Carolina  glanced  at  Norton. 

"I  told  your  father  how  we  caught  Mr.  Haines," 
he  spoke  as  an  answer  to  her. 

The  girl  was  startled.  She  had  not  thought  that 
things  would  go  this  far. 

"I  told  him  how  Haines  wanted  to  get  in  some 
land  speculation  scheme  with  Altacoola,  how  we 
tricked  him  and  caught  him  with  the  goods  when 
he  made  the  proposition  to  me  and  how  we  forced 
him  to  confess." 


i&  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    109 

"You  told  father  that?"  gasped  Carolina. 

Norton  nodded. 

"I  don't  understand  it,"  said  Langdon.  "To 
think  that  he  was  that  kind!" 

Son  Randolph  now  took  his  turn  in  the  case 
against  the  secretary. 

"We  were  both  here,  father.  I  heard  him — 
Carolina  heard  him,"  he  said.  "Didn't  you,  Caro- 
lina?" 

"Yes,"  said  the  girl  weakly,  "I  was  here."  Then 
she  turned  abruptly.  "I  must  go,"  she  said,  "must 
go  right  away.  Mrs.  Holcomb  is  waiting  for  me." 

The  Senator  turned  to  his  desk  bent  and  dis- 
couraged. 

"I  suppose  I  should  have  taken  a  secretary  who 
was  a  Southerner  and  a  gentleman.  Well,  Ran- 
dolph, you'll  have  to  act  now.  Take  this  let- 
ter  " 

The  young  man  sat  down  and  took  the  follow- 
ing from  the  Senator's  diction : 

"MR.  HAINES — 

"Sir:  I  quite  understand  your  feelings  and  the 
impossibility  of  your  continuing  in  my  employ.  The 
least  said  about  it  the  better.  I  am  sorry,  too. 

"WILLIAM  H.  LANGDON." 

"You  boys  run  away.  I've  got  to  think,"  said  the 
Senator. 

When  the  pair  had  gone  the  old  man  drew  the  let- 
ter to  him,  and  below  his  signature  he  added  a  post- 
script: "Don't  forget  there's  some  money  coming 
to  you." 

Walking  across  the  room  to  leave,  he  sighed : 

"He  was  making  the  best  kind  of  a  secretary." 


CHAPTER  XVI 

A  RESCUE  IN  THE  NICK  OF  TIME 

LATER  in  that  never-to-be-forgotten  day  Bud 
Haines  ventured  back  to  his  desk  in  the  committee 
room,  after  first  ascertaining  that  Senator  Lang- 
don  wonld  not  return.  Some  of  the  Senator's  papers 
must  be  straightened  out,  and  he  wanted  personal 
documents  of  his  own. 

The  secretary  regretfully,  sorrowfully  performed 
these  final  duties  and  found  himself  stopping  at  va- 
rious intervals  to  try  to  explain  to  himself  how  he 
had  been  deceived  in  both  the  Langdons,  father  and 
daughter.  He  had  to  give  up  both  problems.  To 
him  neither  was  explainable.  "I've  known  enough 
Senators  to  know  that  I'd  never  meet  an  honest 
one,"  he  muttered.  "But  as  to  women — well,  there's 
too  much  carefully  selected  wisdom  in  their  inno- 
cence to  suit  me." 

This  cynic,  new  born  from  the  shell  of  the  chronic 
idealist  that  was,  suddenly  was  disturbed  in  his 
ruminations  by  a  sound  at  the  door.  Looking  up,  he 
saw  Hope  Georgia  Langdon  standing,  shyly,  em- 
barrassed, in  the  main  entrance. 

"Mr.  Haines,"  she  said,  timidly. 

Bud  jumped  to  his  feet 

"Yes,  Miss  Hope  Georgia." 

As  the  Senator's  younger  daughter  came  toward 
him  he  noticed  that  she  was  excited  over  something, 
and  for  a  newly  made  cynic  he  took  altogether  too 

110 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    111 

•nuch  notice  of  her  youthful  beauty,  her  fresh,  rosy 
complexion  and  her  dancing,  sparkling  eyes.  The 
thought  occurred  to  him,  "What  a  woman  she  will 
make — if  she  doesn't  imitate  her  sister!" 

"I  couldn't  let  you  go,  Mr.  Haines,  without  telling 
you  good-by  and  letting  you  know  that,  no  matter 
what  the  others  say,  I  don't  think  there  has  been 
anything  wrong." 

Before  Haines  could  reply,  the  young  girl  rushed 
on,  excitedly: 

"That's  why  I  came.  I  know  father  and  Carolina 
won't  like  it— they  wont  think  it's  nice — but  I 
wanted  to  say  to  you  that  I  don't  think  one  ought 
to  believe  things  against  one  you've  liked  and 
trusted." 

"You  think  one  ought  not,"  said  Haines.  "So  do 
I;  but  in  this  case  the  proofs  were  very  strong.  What 
are  you  going  to  do  when  people  you  cant  doubt 
pledge  their  word?" 

The  girl  tossed  her  head. 

•  Well,  the  only  one's  word  Fd  like  to  take  would 
be  the  person  accused.  I  know  I'm  only  a  girl,  Mr. 
Haines.  and  I'm  not  grown  up,  but  you  Ye  made  a 
mistake.  Do  try  to  clear  things  up.  Why  don't 
you  see  father  and  talk  with  him?  Please  do,  Mr. 
Haines." 

Little  realizing  that  the  girl  was  speaking  in  his 
own  faror,  for  he  knew  not  the  need  for  such  speak- 
ing, he  believed  her  to  be  defending  her  father.  He 
grasped  her  hands  impulsively. 

••You  have  grown  up  very  much  since  yon  came 
to  the  capital,  haven't  you?"  he  said.  "And  you  are 
right.  Miss  Hope.  I  onght  to  have  known  even  when 
the  facts  were  against  him  that  your  father  couldn't 
have  been  really  crooked.  He  can't  be," 

Hope  Langdon's  face  flushed  indignantly. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"Father  crooked?  Who  said  so?  Who  dared  say 
that?"  she  exclaimed. 

"Why,  they  told  me  he  had  sold  out  on  the  Alta- 
coola  bill.  They  said  he  was  trying  to  make  money 
on  Altacoola.  That's  why  I  quit." 

The  flame  of  anger  still  was  spread  on  the  girl's 
face. 

"They  said  that!"  she  exclaimed.  "Then  they 
lied.  They  said  you  were  the  crooked  one.  Why, 
father  thinks  you  sold  out  on  Altacoola.  They  said 
you  were  trying  to  make  money  on  that  navy  yard." 

"What !  They  said  I  was  crooked !"  Haines  fair- 
ly shouted.  He  rushed  around  the  desk  and  caught 
the  girl  by  both  hands. 

"I  see  it !"  he  cried.  "I  see  it!  There's  something 
I'm  not  just  on  to.  You  thought  it  was  I;  your 
father  thinks " 

"Of  course,"  exclaimed  Hope,  quite  as  excited  as 
he.  "I  couldn't  believe  it.  That's  why  I  came  back 
to  get  you  to  explain.  I  wanted  you  to  disprove  the 
charge." 

"I  should  say  I  would,"  cried  the  secretary. 

"I  knew  it !  I  knew  it !  They  couldn't  make  me 
believe  anything  against  you.  I  knew  you  were  all 
I  thought  you.  Oh,  Mr.  Haines,  prove  you  are  that 
for  my " 

Then  Hope  Georgia  abruptly  stopped.  She  had 
lost  her  head,  and  in  the  enthusiasm  of  the  moment 
had  revealed  her  real  feelings — something  she 
would  never  do  presumably  when  she  grew  more 
wise  in  the  ways  of  women. 

She  suddenly  thrust  Haines'  hands  from  her  own 
and  stood  staring  at  him,  wondering — wondering  if 
he  had  guessed. 

Strangely  enough,  under  the  circumstances,  the 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    113 

girl  was  the  first  to  recover  and  break  the  awkward 
silence. 

"Come  to  our  house  to-night,  Mr.  Haines.  There's 
to  be  a  dinner  and  a  musicale,  as  yon  know;  but 
that  won't  matter.  No  matter  who  says  no,  I  prom- 
ise you  that  you  shall  see  father.  There  shall  be 
an  explanation." 

"Thank  you,  Miss  Hope.  You  don't  realize  all 
you've  done  for  me,"  said  Bud,  seriously.  "It's  a 
wonderful  thing  to  find  a  girl  who  believes  in  a  man. 
You've  taught  me  a  lot,  Miss  Hope.  Thank  you." 

"Good-by,  Mr.  Haines.  Come  to-night,"  she  said, 
as  she  turned  and  hurried  away. 

Bud  Haines  stood  looking  after  her,  thought- 
fully. 

"What  a  stunning  girl  she  is!  I've  seemed  to 
overlook  her,  with  the  rush  of  events — and  Caro- 
lina," he  murmured,  softly.  "We  never  were  such 
very  great  friends,  yet  she  believes  in  me.  What 
a  beauty  she  is !" 

A  messenger  boy  broke  in  on  his  musings  with  a 
letter  for  Senator  Langdon  marked  "Important." 

"Guess  I'm  secretary  enough  yet  to  answer  this," 
he  thought,  tearing  it  open. 

"Great  heavens!"  he  exclaimed  as  he  read  it. 
"Here's  the  chance  to  get  to  the  bottom  of  this  Alta- 
coola  proposition.  It's  from  Peabody." 

Haines  read  the  following: 

"DEAR  SENATOR  LANGDON  :  I  am  going  to  Phila- 
delphia to-night.  Urgent  call  from  a  company  for 
which  I  am  counsel,  so  I  probably  won't  be  able 
to  confer  with  you  regarding  the  committee's  choice 
for  the  naval  base.  But  I  know  you  are  for  Alta- 
coola  and  trust  to  you  to  do  all  you  can  for  that 


114.     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

site.     I,  of  course,  consider  the  matter  definitely 
settled." 

"This  situation  will  enable  Langdon  to  bluff  Pea- 
body  and  draw  out  of  him  all  the  inside  of  the  Alta- 
coola  business — ought  to,  anyway.  Guess  some  Gulf 
City  talk  will  smoke  him  out."  • 

Haines  rushed  out  and  across  the  hall,  to  reap- 
pear literally  hauling  in  a  stenographer  by  the 
scruff  of  the  neck.  "Here,  you,  take  this  dictation 
— record  time,"  he  cried : 

"SENATOR  HORATIO  PEABODY,  Louis  Napoleon 
Hotel :  You  are  going  to  Philadelphia  to-night,  I 
know,  leaving  the  report  on  the  naval  base  to  me. 
I  have  just  come  on  various  aspects  of  the  situation 
which  make  me  incline  very  favorably  toward  Gulf 
City.  I  am  looking  into  the  matter  and,  of  course, 
shall  act  according  to  my  best  judgment.  That  is 
what  you  will  want  me  to  do,  I  know.  Sincerely 
yours,  WILLIAM  H.  LANGDON." 

"I  don't  think  Senator  Peabody  will  go  to  Phila- 
delphia to-night,"  laughed  Haines  grimly,  as  he  ad- 
dressed the  envelope,  "and  I  think  that  when  the 
'boss  of  the  Senate'  hurries  around  to  the  Langdon 
house  instead  there  will  be  more  than  one  kind  of 
music,  more  than  one  kind  of  food  eaten — perhaps 
crow — before  the  evening  is  over." 

Seizing  his  hat,  Bud  rushed  to  the  door  to  look 
up  a  messenger. 

"It's  all  in  Langdon's  hands  now,"  he  cried. 
"Here's  where  I  resign  my  position  as  United 
States  Senator." 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE  CONSPIRATORS  OUTWITTED 

SENATOR  LANGDON'S  dinners  had  well  won  popu- 
larity in  Washington.  Invitations  to  them  were 
rarely  answered  by  the  sending  of  "regrets."  He 
had  brought  his  old  Mississippi  cook  from  the  plan- 
tation, whose  Southern  dishes  had  caused  the  Sec- 
retary of  State  himself  to  make  the  Senator  an  offer 
for  the  chefs  services.  "No  use  bidding  for  old 
General  Washington."  said  the  Senator  on  that 
notable  occasion.  "He  wouldn't  leave  my  kitchen, 
sir,  even  to  accept  the  presidency  itself.  Why,  I 
couldn't  even  discharge  him  if  I  wanted  to.  I  tried 
to  let  him  go  once,  sir,  and  the  old  general  made 
me  feel  so  ashamed  of  myself  that  I  actually  cried, 
sir." 

Peabody  and  Stevens  were  the  dinner  guests  to- 
night, as  they  were  to  confer  afterward  with  Lang- 
don  and  settle  on  the  action  of  the  naval  affairs 
committee  regarding  the  naval  base.  The  three, 
being  a  majority,  could  control  the  action  of  the 
committee. 

Senator  Peabody  had  finally  postponed  leaving 
for  Philadelphia  until  the  midnight  train  in  order 
to  be  present,  he  assured  Langdon  as  the  trio  en- 
tered the  library.  The  girls,  Norton  and  Randolph 
were  left  to  oversee  preparations  for  the  prominent 
Washingtonians  invited  to  attend  the  musicale  to 
be  given  later  in  the  evening. 


Carolina  and  Hope  Georgia  were  in  distinctly  dif- 
ferent moods — the  elder,  vivacious,  elated  over  the 
bright  outlook  for  her  future;  the  younger,  cast 
down  and  wearing  a  worried  expression.  Norton 
and  Randolph  in  jubilant  spirit  tried  to  cheer  her, 
and  failing,  resorted  to  taunts  about  some  imag- 
inary love  affair. 

The  courage  of  the  afternoon,  which  had  enabled 
her  to  speak  to  Haines  as  she  had,  was  gone;  girlish 
fears  now  swept  over  her  as  to  the  outcome  of  the 
evening.  Haines  had  not  come!  Was  he  really 
guilty  and  had  promised  to  come  merely  to  get  rid 
of  her?  Why  was  he  late?  If  he  did  come,  would 
she  be  able  to  have  her  father  see  him,  as  she  had 
promised?  If  she  failed,  and  she  might,  she  would 
never  see  this  young  man  again. 

"If  I  looked  as  unhappy  as  you,  Hope,  I'd  go  to 
bed  and  not  discourage  our  guests  as  they  arrive," 
Carolina  suggested.  "Our  floral  decorations  alone 
for  to-night  cost  $700,  and  the  musical  program 
cost  over  $3,000.  The  most  fashionable  folks  in 
Washington  coming — what  more  could  you  want, 
Hope?  Isn't  it  perfectly  glorious?  Why " 

"Mr.  Haines  is  below,  asking  to  see  Senator  Lang- 
don,"  announced  a  servant,  entering. 

"Oh,  I  knew  he'd  come!  I  knew  it!  I  knew 
it!"  cried  Hope  Georgia  in  pure  ecstasy,  clapping 
her  hands. 

The  three  plotters  turned  on  the  girl  in  amaze- 
ment; then  they  stared  at  each  other. 

"Mr.  Haines!"  ejaculated  Carolina. 

"Haines!"  exclaimed  Randolph,  hurriedly  leav- 
ing the  room. 

"Haines!"  sneered  Norton.  "We  can  take  care 
of  him.  The  Senator  won't  see  him." 

Carolina  caught  the  suggestion. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    117 

"Tell  Mr.  Haines  that  Senator  Langdon  regrets 
that  he  cannot  possibly  receive  him,"  she  directed. 

"Carolina!" 

There  was  a  ring  of  protest  and  pain  in  Hope 
Georgia's  voice  as  she  darted  out  of  the  door  after 
the  servant. 

"What's  the  matter  with  that  girl?"  asked  Nor- 
ton, trying  to  be  calm. 

Carolina  shook  her  head. 

"I  don't  know.  She's  queer  to-day.  I  believe  she 
imagines  herself  in  love  with  Mr.  Haines." 

"Aren't  you  afraid  she'll  make  trouble?" 

The  other  sister  laughed  confidently. 

"Little  Hope  make  trouble?  Of  course  not.  If 
she  does,  we  can  always  frighten  her  into 
obedience." 

The  door  reopened  and  Hope  entered,  followed 
by  Bud  Haines.  The  girl's  head  was  high;  her 
cheeks  were  red ;  her  eyes  glittered  ominously. 

"I  brought  him  back,  Carolina,"  she  said  coolly. 
"Father  will  want  to  see  him.  I  know  there  has 
been  some  mistake." 

"Yes,"  supplemented  Bud,  "there  has  been  a  de- 
cided mistake,  and  I  must  refuse  to  accept  the  word 
that  came  to  me  from  Senator  Langdon." 

Carolina  Langdon  drew  herself  up  in  her  most 
dignified  manner. 

"I'm  sorry,  Mr.  Haines,  but  you  must  accept  it," 
she  said. 

"Exactly,"  seconded  Norton.  "Senator  Langdon 
entirely  declines  to  receive  you." 

"I  don't  trust  anything  you  say,  Congressman 
Norton,  and  I  may  say  also  that  I  recognize  no  right 
of  yours  to  interfere  in  any  affair  between  me  and 
the  Langdon  family." 

"Perhaps  I  can  explain  my  right,  Mr.  Haines," 


118     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

Norton  said  coolly,  stepping  beside  Carolina.  "I 
have  just  had  the  pleasure  of  announcing  to  Miss 
Hope  Georgia  Langdon  my  engagement  to  Miss 
Carolina  Langdon." 

Haines,  entirely  unprepared  for  such  a  deiiou- 
ment,  shot  a  searching  glance  at  Carolina.  She 
bowed  her  head  in  affirmation. 

"So  that's  why  you  tried  to  ruin  me!"  he  cried. 
"You're  both  from  the  same  mold,"  turning  from 
Carolina  Langdon  to  Congressman  Norton,  then 
back  to  the  girl. 

They  stood  facing  each  other  when  Randolph 
Langdon  returned.  At  sight  of  Bud  Haines  he 
started,  stopped  short  a  second,  then  came  forward 
quickly. 

"Mr.  Haines,  my  father  has  declared  that  he  will 
not  see  you,  and  either  you  leave  this  house  at  once 
or  I  shall  call  the  servants." 

Bud  looked  at  young  Langdon  contemptuously. 

"Yes,  I  think  you  would  need  some  help."  he 
sneered,  feeling  in  his  veins  the  rush  of  red  blood, 
the  determination  in  his  heart  that  had  a  few  years 
back  carried  him  through  eighty  yards  of  strug- 
gling Yale  football  players  to  a  touchdown. 

The  Senator's  son  drew  back  his  arm,  but  the 
confident  look  of  the  New  Yorker  restrained  him. 

"Mr.  Haines,  in  the  South  gentlemen  do  not  make 
scenes  of  violence  before  ladies." 

The  cold  rebuke  of  Carolina  cut  into  the  silence. 

Haines  stood  in  perplexity.  He  did  not  know 
what  to  do  or  how  to  get  to  the  Senator.  It  was 
Hope  who  came  to  his  rescue. 

"I'll  tell  father  you  are  here.  I'll  make  him 
come,  Mr.  Haines.  He  shall  see  you." 

With  the  air  of  a  defiant  little  princess  she 
started  for  the  door. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    119 

"Hope,  I  forbid  you  doing  any  such  thing,"  ex- 
claimed her  older  sister,  but  the  younger  girl  paid 
no  attention.  Kandolph  caught  her  arm. 

"You  shall  not,  Hope,"  he  cried. 

Hope  Georgia  struggled  and  pulled  her  arm  free. 

"I  reckon  I  just  got  to  do  what  seems  right  to 
me,  Randolph,"  she  exclaimed.  "I  reckon  I've 
grown  up  to-night,  and  I  tell  you — I  tell  all  of  you" 
— she  whirled  and  faced  them — "there's  something 
wrong  here,  and  father  is  going  to  see  Mr.  Haines 
to-night,  and  they  are  going  to  settle  it." 

Norton  alone  was  equal  to  the  situation,  tem- 
porarily at  least. 

"I'll  be  fair  with  you,  Hope,"  he  said  reassur- 
ingly, and  she  stopped  in  her  flight  to  the  hall  door. 
"I'll  take  Carolina  and  Randolph  in  to  see  the  Sena- 
tor, and  we'll  tell  him  Mr.  Haines  is  here.  Per- 
haps we  had  better  tell  the  Senator,"  Norton  sug- 
gested, beckoning  to  Carolina  and  her  brother. 
"Let  Mr.  Haines  wait  here,  and  we  will  make  the 
situation  clear  to  the  Senator." 

"You'd  better  make  it  very  clear,"  exclaimed  the 
younger  girl,  "for  I'm  going  to  stay  here  with  Mr. 
Haines  until  he  has  seen  father." 

The  guilty  trio,  fearful  of  this  new  and  unex- 
plainable  activity  of  Hope  Georgia,  slowly  departed 
in  search  of  Senator  Langdon  to  make  a  last  des- 
perate attempt  to  prevent  him  from  meeting  this 
pestilential  secretary  that  was — and  might  be 
again. 

When  the  door  closed  after  them  Hope  came 
down  to  the  table  where  Bud  Haines  was  standing. 

"Won't  you  sit  down,  Mr.  Haines?"  she  said. 
"I'll — I'll  try  to  entertain  you  until  father  comes," 
she  said  weakly,  realizing  that  again  she  was  alone 
with  the  man  she  loved. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 
HOPE  LANGDON'S  HOUR  OF  TRIUMPH 

HAINES  sat  at  a  table  in  the  reception-room, 
across  from  Hope  Georgia,  and  his  gratitude  for  her 
battle  in  his  favor  mingled  with  a  realization  of 
qualities  in  this  young  lady  that  he  had  never  be- 
fore noticed.  Probably  he  did  not  know  that  what 
he  had  really  seen  in  her  that  day  and  that  eve- 
ning was  the  sudden  transition  from  girlhood  to 
womanhood,  her  casting  aside  of  thoughtless,  irre- 
sponsive youth  and  the  shouldering  of  the  respon- 
sibilities of  the  grown  woman  who  would  do  her 
share  in  the  world's  work. 

He  stared  across  in  astonishment  at  this  slip  of 
a  girl  who  had  outwitted  two  resourceful  men  and 
an  older  sister  of  unquestioned  ability. 

"I  do  not  recognize  you,  Miss  Hope,"  he  said 
finally. 

"Perhaps  you  never  looked  at  me  before,"  she 
suggested  archly,  feeling  instinctively  that  this  was 
her  hour;  that  the  man  she  loved  was  at  this  mo- 
ment thinking  more  about  her  than  of  anything  else 
in  the  world. 

Haines  made  a  gesture  of  regret. 

"That  must  be  it,"  he  agreed.  Then  he  leaned 
forward  eagerly.  "But  I'm  looking  at  you  now, 
and  I  like  looking  at  you.  I  like  what  you've  done 
for  me." 

"Oh,  that  was  nothing,  Mr.   Haines,"  she  ex- 

190 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

claimed  airily,  her  intuition  telling  her  of  her  sway 
over  the  man. 

"Nothing!"  he  exclaimed.  "Well,  it's  more  than 
any  one  ever  did  for  me  before.  I've  known  lots 
of  girls " 

"I  don't  doubt  that,  Mr.  Haines,"  Hope  inter- 
jected, with  a  light  laugh. 

"Yes,  I  say  I've  known  lots  of  girls,  but  there's 
never  been  one  who  showed  herself  such  a  true 
friend  as  you  have  been.  There's  never  been  any 
one  who  believed  in  me  this  way  when  I  was  prac- 
tically down  and  out." 

"Perhaps  you've  never  been  down  and  out  be- 
fore, Mr.  Haines,  so  they  never  had  a  chance  to  show 
whether  they  believed  in  you  or  not." 

"That  may  be  one  reason,"  he  answered.  "I 
wonder  why" — he  paused — "I  wonder  why  your 
sister  Carolina  did  not  believe  in  me." 

"You  were  quite  fond  of  her,  weren't  you?"  the 
girl  began,  then  stopped  and  turned  away  her  head. 

Haines  gazed  curiously  at  Hope. 

"I  was,  yes.  I  even  thought  I  loved  her,  but  I 
soon  saw  my  mistake.  It  wasn't  love.  It  was  only 
a  kind  of " 

Suddenly  pausing,  Bud  Haines  shot  a  swift 
glance  at  the  girl. 

"What  wonderful  hair  you  have.  Miss  Hope." 

The  girl  smiled  invitingly. 

"Think  so?" 

"Yes,"  he  declared  earnestly.  "I  know  so.  I 
never  noticed  it  before,  but  I  guess  lots  of  fellows 
down  in  Mississippi  have." 

Hope's  tantalizing  smile  worried  him.  "I  hope 
you  are  not  secretly  engaged  too !"  he  exclaimed. 

"No,  oh,  no!"  she  answered  quickly,  before  she 
thought. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"Or  in  love?"  he  asked  seriously. 

Haines  had  stood  up  and  was  now  leaning  in- 
tently over  the  table.  He  realized  the  difference 
between  the  feeling  he  had  had  for  Carolina  and 
the  tender  emotion  that  thrilled  him  as  he  thought 
of  the  sweet  girl  before  him.  This  time  he  knew 
he  was  not  mistaken.  He  knew  that  he  truly  loved 
Hope  Langdon. 

"Or  in  love?"  he  asked  again,  anxious  at  her 
silence. 

Hope  looked  at  him  slowly.  A  faint  blush  illu- 
mined her  face. 

"Oh,  don't  let's  talk  about  me,"  she  exclaimed. 

"But  I  want  to  talk  about  you,"  he  cried.  "I 
don't  want  to  talk  about  anything  else.  I  must 
talk  about  you,  and  I'm  going  to  talk  whether  you 
want  to  hear  or  not.  You've  believed  in  me  when 
nobody  else  believed.  You've  fought  for  me  when 
everybody  else  was  fighting  against  me.  You've 
shown  that  you  think  I  am  honest  and  worthy  of 
a  woman's  faith.  You  fought  your  own  family  for 
me.  Nobody  has  ever  done  for  me  what  you  have, 
and — and " 

He  faltered,  full  of  what  he  was  about  to  say. 

"And  you're  grateful,"  she  ended. 

He  looked  her  squarely  in  the  eyes  as  though 
to  fathom  her  thoughts.  Then  he  reached  toward 
the  girl  and  seized  both  her  hands. 

"Grateful  nothing !"  he  cried.  "I'm  not  grateful. 
I'm  in  love — in  love  with  you.  I  want  you — want 
you  as  I  never  wanted  anything  or  anybody  before, 
and  I  tell  you  I'm  going  to  have  you.  Do  you 
hear?" 

Hope  could  not  hide  her  agitation.  The  light 
in  her  eyes  showed  she  was  all  a  woman. 

"Oh,   nothing  in   the  world  could  happen   as 


THE   LANGDON   FAMILY. — Page  123. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI     123 

quickly  as  that,  Mr.  Haines!"  she  protested,  with 
her  last  attempt  at  archness. 

"Nothing  could?"  he  threatened.  "I'll  show 
you." 

He  advanced  quickly  around  the  table,  but  the 
girl  darted  just  beyond  his  grasp.  Then  she  paused 
— and  her  lover  gathered  her  in  his  arms. 

"Hope,  my  dear,  you  are  my  own,"  was  all  he 
could  say  as  he  bent  over  to  kiss  the  lips  that  were 
not  refused  to  him. 

Hope  released  herself  from  his  fervent  grasp. 

"I  love  you,  I  do  love  you,"  she  said  fondly.  "I 
believe  in  you,  and  father  must  too.  You've  got 
to  straighten  this  tangle  out  now,  for  my  sake  as 
well  as  your  own.  Father  will  listen." 

"It's  all  so  strange,  so  wronderful,  I  can  hardly 
understand  it,"  began  Haines  slowly,  as  he  held  the 
girl's  hands. 

Unknown  to  both,  the  door  leading  from  the  hall 
had  opened  to  admit  Senator  Langdon  into  the 
lower  end  of  the  room.  Surprised  at  the  sight 
of  the  couple,  so  seriously  intent  on  each  other,  he 
made  a  sudden  gesture  of  anger,  then,  apparently 
changing  his  mind,  advanced  toward  them. 

"I  believe  you  want  to  see  me,  sir,"  he  said  to 
Haines.  "I  hope  you'll  be  brief.  I  have  very  little 
time  to  spare  from  my  guests." 

Hope's  bosom  fluttered  timorously  at  the  inter- 
ruption. The  man  nervously  stepped  forward. 

"I  sha'n't  take  much  of  your  time,  Senator  Lang- 
don," he  said.  "There  has  been  a  misunderstand- 
ing, a  terrible  mistake.  I  am  sure  I  can  convince 
you." 

Senator  Langdon  hesitated  doubtfully,  half 
turned  toward  Carolina,  Kandolph  and  Norton, 
svho  had  followed  him,  and  again  faced  Haines. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

Hope  pressed  her  father's  arm  and  looked  up 

into  his  face  entreatingly.    Randolph,   observing 

this,  quickly  stepped  close  to  the  Senator's  side, 

saying,  "I  can  settle  with  this  Mr.  Haines  f<rr  you." 

Waving  his  son  aside,  the  Senator  finally  spoke, 

"I  reckon  there's  been  too  many  attending  to  my 

business  and  settling  my  affairs,  Randolph,"  he 

said.    "I  think  for  a  change  I'll  settle  a  few  of  my 

own.    All  of  you  children  go  out  and  leave  me  here 

with  Mr.  Haines." 


CHAPTER  XIX 

SENATOR  LANGDON  LEARNS  THE  TRUTH 

WHEN  they  were  alone  Haines  faced  the  Senator 
and  spoke  determinedly. 

"They  told  you  I  was  not  running  straight,"  he 
said. 

The  Senator  nodded,  and  the  lines  about  his 
mouth  deepened. 

"Yes." 

Bud  Haines  stiffened  at  the  word.  Every  muscle 
in  his  body  seemed  to  become  rigid  as  he  mentally 
vowed  that  he  would  retaliate  against  his  traducers 
if  it  cost  him  his  life  to  do  it.  Hope  had  informed 
him  only  too  accurately,  he  now  realized.  Little 
did  the  Senator  know  that  what  he  was  now  about 
to  hear  would  give  him  one  of  the  severest  shocks 
of  his  life. 

"They  told  me  you  weren't  running  straight," 
said  Haines  deliberately.  "Now,  neither  one  of  us 
has  been  crooked,  but  somebody  else  has  been,  and 
this  was  the  plan  to  keep  us  apart" 

"Norton  told  me  you  were  speculating  in  Alta- 
coola  lands,"  said  Langdon. 

"And  Norton  told  me  the  same  of  you/'  retorted 
Bud. 

The  Senator's  face  grew  very  serious. 

"But  my  daughter,  Miss  Carolina  Langdon,  con- 
firmed Norton's  story." 

Haines  here  faced  the  most  difficult  part  of  his 

125 


126     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

interview.  He  hardly  knew  how  to  answer.  His 
manhood  rebelled  against  placing  any  blame  on  a 
woman.  He  revolted  at  the  thought  of  ruining  a 
father's  faith  in  his  daughter's  honesty,  especially 
when  that  father  was  the  man  he  most  admired, 
a  man  for  whom  he  had  genuine,  deep-rooted  affec- 
tion. But  it  was  necessary  that  the  words  be 
spoken. 

"I  hate  to  tell  you,  sir,"  he  said  in  a  low,  uncer- 
tain voice,  "that  it  was  your  daughter  Carolina  who 
made  me  believe  this  story  told  about  you  and 
vouched  for  by  your  son  Randolph." 

Langdon  started  back  aghast.  He  stared  at 
Haines  and  knew  that  he  spoke  the  truth.  Then 
his  white  head  sank  pathetically.  Tears  welled  into 
the  eyes  of  the  planter,  and  this  sturdy  old  fight- 
ing man  dropped  weakly  into  a  chair,  sobbing  con- 
vulsively, broken  in  spirit  and  wearied  in  body. 

At  length  Haines  spoke  to  his  stricken  chief. 

"I  know  it  hurts,"  he  said.  "It  hurt  me  to  have 
to  say  it.  Don't  believe  it  until  you  get  it  out  of 
Norton,  but  then  you  must  do  something." 

Langdon  came  to  his  feet,  mopping  his  cheeks* 
But  there  was  no  weakness  in  him  now.  Yes,  he 
would  do  something.  He  would  go  after  the  thieves 
that  had  turned  his  own  flesh  and  blood  against 
him  and  root  them  all  out — show  them  all  up. 

"Oh,  I'll  do  something,"  he  said  grimly.  "I'm 
going  to  make  up  for  lost  time.  Of  course,  Norton 
is  speculating.  Who's  behind  him?" 

"Stevens  and  Peabody,  I'm  positive,"  answered 
Haines,  "and  behind  them  is  Standard  Steel." 

"What!"  exclaimed  Langdon.  "Stevens  in  a 
swindle  like  this!  Are  you  sure?  How  do  you 
know?" 

"A  Gulf  City  man  who  couldn't  carry  his  liquor 


gave  me  some  clues,  and  I  worked  Norton  into  tell- 
ing some  more,"  answered  the  secretary.  "Where 
is  Peabody?" 

"He's  here  now." 

"Then  he  hasn't  got  my  letter  yet.  I  sent  him 
a  note  and  signed  your  name,  Senator,  to  the  effect 
that  the  Gulf  City  claims  have  been  brought  before 
you  so  strongly  that  you  might  vote  for  Gulf  City." 

Langdon  was  amazed. 

"You  sent  that  note,"  he  exclaimed,  "when  you 
know  Altacoola  is  the  only  proper  place  and  Gulf 
City  is  a  mud  bank?" 

The  newspaper  man  smiled. 

"Of  course,"  he  agreed,  "but  I  had  to  get  a  rise 
out  of  Peabody.  This  will  show  where  he  stands." 

"Oh,"  said  Langdon,  "I  understand.  Thanks, 
boy." 

A  servant  entered  with  a  note. 

"For  Senator  Peabody,  sir,  marked  'Urgent/ 
The  messenger's  been  hunting  him  for  some  hours." 

Langdon  looked  shrewdly  at  Bud,  then  turned 
to  the  servant. 

"You  keep  that  note  until  I  ring  for  you,  then 
bring  it  to  Senator  Peabody.  Understand?  No 
matter  how  urgent  it's  marked." 

The  man  bowed. 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Now  tell  Mr.  Norton,  Miss  Langdon  and  Mr. 
Randolph  to  come  here." 

The  Senator  turned  back  to  his  secretary. 

"I  expect  I'm  going  to  be  pretty  busy  the  rest 
of  the  evening,  Bud,  so  in  case  I  forget  to  mention 
it  again,  remember  to  show  up  at  your  old  desk 
in  the  morning." 

"I  will.    Thank  you,  sir." 


128    A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"You  sent  for  us,  Senator,"  said  Norton,  ap- 
proaching with  his  two  dupes. 

"You  are  interested  in  Altacoola  lands/'  the 
Senator  angrily  charged. 

"I  am,  sir,"  he  said. 

"And  you  told  Mr.  Haines  that  I  was  interested 
in  Altacoola  lands?" 

The  schemer  hesitated,  and  the  Senator  hroke  in 
on  him  in  rage. 

"Speak  out,  man !    Tell  the  truth,  if  you  can." 

"I  did,"  admitted  the  Congressman  finally. 

"Was  there  any  particular  reason  for  your  not 
telling  the  truth?"  demanded  the  Mississippian  in 
threatening  tone. 

"I  told  the  truth,"  replied  Norton.  "You  are  in- 
terested in  them." 

For  an  instant  Langdon  seemed  about  to  step 
toward  him,  then  he  controlled  himself. 

"I  didn't  know  it,"  he  said. 

"You  have  several  things  to  learn,  Senator,"  de- 
clared the  Congressman. 

"I  have  things  to  learn  and  things  to  teach/'  he 
said.  "But  go  on.  Why  am  I  interested?" 

"You  are  interested,  Senator,"  replied  the  trick- 
ster, making  his  big  play,  "through  your  son,  Kan- 
dolph,  who  invested  $50,000  of  your  money  in  Alta- 
coola, and  also  through  your  daughter,  Miss 
Carolina,  who,  acting  on  my  advice,  has  put  her 
own  money — $25,000 — in  Altacoola  land  also." 

For  a  moment  Langdon  was  speechless.  It  was 
too  much  at  first  for  the  honest  old  Southerner  to 
comprehend. 

"You  mean,"  he  gasped  at  last,  "that  you  in- 
duce a  boy  to  put  $50,000  in  Altacoola  land  when 
you  knew  I  had  to  vote  on  the  bill?  And  you  even 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

let  my  daughter  put  her  money  in  the  same 
scheme?" 

"Of  course,  I  did.  It  was  a  splendid  chance, 
and  I  let  your  son  in  for  friendship  and  your 
daughter  because  she  has  done  me  the  honor  to 
promise  to  become  my  wife." 

"What!  You  have  my  daughter's  promise  to 
marry  you,  you " 

"She  admits  it  herself." 

"Then  I  reckon  here's  where  I  lose  a  prospec- 
tive son-in-law,"  sneered  Langdon.  "But  that's  un- 
important. Now,  Norton,  who's  behind  you?" 

"I  must  decline  to  answer  that." 

Langdon  looked  at  him  sternly. 

"Very  well,"  he  said.  "You  are  too  small  to 
count.  I'll  find  out  for  myself.  Now  you  go  to  my 
study  and  wait  there  until  I  send  for  you.  I  must 
be  alone  with  my  children." 

When  Norton  and  Haines  had  left  them,  Lang- 
don turned  sadly  to  the  two  children  who  had  dis- 
graced him. 

"Can  you  understand?"  he  said.  "Do  you  know 
what  you've  done  to  me?" 

"What,  father?  We've  done  nothing  wrong!" 
protested  Carolina. 

"They  told  me  it  was  perfectly  legitimate,"  urged 
Randolph.  "They  said  everybody — Peabody  and 
Stevens  and  the  rest — were  in  it,  and  Peabody  is 
the  boss  of  the  Senate." 

"Yes,  my  boy,"  assented  the  old  planter,  "he's 
the  leader  in  the  Senate,  and  that's  the  shameful 
part  of  all  this — that  a  man  of  his  high  standing 
should  set  you  so  miserable  an  example." 

Randolph  Langdon  was  not  a  vicious  lad,  not  a 
youth  who  preferred  or  chose  wrongdoing  for  the 
increased  rewards  it  offered.  He  was  at  heart  a 


130     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

chivalrous,  straightforward,  trustful  Southern  boy 
who  believed  in  the  splendid  traditions  of  his 
family  and  loved  his  father  as  a  son  should  a  parent 
having  the  qualities  of  the  old  hero  of  Crawfords- 
ville.  Jealous  of  his  honor,  he  had  been  a  victim 
of  Norton's  wiles  because  of  the  Congressman's 
position  and  persuasiveness,  because  this  compan- 
ion of  his  young  days  had  won  his  confidence  and 
had  not  hesitated  to  distort  the  lad's  idea  of  what 
was  right  and  what  was  wrong. 

Randolph  began  an  indignant  protest  against  his 
father's  reproof  when  the  Senator  cut  him  short. 

"Don't  you  see?"  said  the  Senator.  "I  can  under- 
stand there  being  rascals  in  the  outside  world  and 
that  they  should  believe  your  careless,  foolish  old 
father  lawful  game,  but  that  he  should  be  thought 
a  tool  for  dishonest  thieving  by  members  of  his  own 
family  is  incomprehensible. 

"Randolph,  my  son,  Carolina,  my  daughter, 
through  all  their  generations  the  Langdons  have 
been  honorable.  Your  mother  was  a  Randolph,  and 
this  from  you!  Oh,  Carolina!  And  you,  Ran- 
dolph! How  could  you?  How  could  you  betray 
or  seek  to  betray  your  father,  who  sees  in  you  the 
image  of  your  dear  mother,  who  has  gone?" 


CHAPTER  XX 

THE  CALL  TO  ARMS 

BOTH  Randolph  and  Carolina  were  deeply  af- 
fected by  their  father's  words. 

The  daughter  attempted  to  take  on  herself  the 
blame  for  her  brother's  action. 

"I  was  the  older  one.  I  might  have  stopped  him 
if  I  had  wished,  and  should  bear  the  burden." 

"No,  no,  father,"  exclaimed  the  youth,  his  in- 
born self-reliance  prompting  him  to  shoulder  the 
consequences  of  his  own  mistakes.  "I,  and  I  alone, 
am  responsible  for  what  I  did.  I  did  not  realize 
that  it  was  wrong.  I  will  not  hide  behind 
Carolina." 

Carolina  Langdon  bore  herself  better  than  was 
to  have  been  expected  under  the  strain  of  the  pain- 
ful interview.  She  saw  more  clearly  now  how  she 
had  erred.  She  was  undergoing  an  inward  revolu- 
tion that  would  make  it  impossible  for  her  ever 
again  to  veer  so  far  from  the  line  of  duty  to  her 
father,  her  family  and  to  herself. 

When  Randolph  had  finished  Carolina  took  up 
her  own  defense,  and  eloquently  she  pleaded  the  de- 
fense of  many  a  woman  who  yearns  for  what  she 
has  not  got,  for  what  may  be  beyond  her  reach — 
the  defense  of  the  woman  who  chafes  under  the  limi- 
tations of  worldly  position,  of  sex  and  of  oppor- 
tunity. It  was  the  defense  of  an  ambitious  woman. 

"Perhaps  I  ought  to  have  been  a  man  of  the 

131 


Langdon  family,"  she  exclaimed.  "Father,  oh, 
can't  you  understand  that  I  couldn't  doze  my  life 
away  down  on  those  plantations?  You  don't  know 
what  ambition  is.  I  had  to  have  the  world.  I  had 
to  have  money.  If  I  had  been  a  man  I  would  have 
tried  big  financial  enterprises.  I  should  have  liked 
to  fight  for  a  fortune.  You  wouldn't  have  con- 
demned me  then.  You  might  have  said  my  methods 
were  bold,  but  if  I  succeeded  I  would  have  been  a 
great  man.  But  just  because  I  am  a  woman  you 
think  I  must  sit  home  with  my  knitting.  No,  father, 
the  world  does  move.  Women  must  have  an  equal 
chance  with  men,  but  I  wish  I  had  been  a  man !" 

"Even  then  I  hope  you  would  have  been  a  gentle- 
man," rebuked  her  father  sternly.  "Women  should 
have  an  equal  chance,  Carolina,  They  should  have 
an  equal  chance  for  the  same  virtues  as  men,  not 
for  the  same  vices." 

"But  an  equal  chance,"  returned  the  girl  fervidly. 
"There,  father,  you  have  admitted  what  I  have 
tried  to  prove.  The  woman  with  the  spirit  of  a 
man,  the  spirit  that  cries  to  a  woman,  'Advance,' 
'Accomplish,'  'Be  something/  'Strike  for  yourself,' 
cannot  sit  idly  by  while  all  the  world  moves  on. 
If  it  is  true  that  I  have  chosen  the  wrong  means, 
the  wrong  way,  to  better  my  lot  I  did  it  through 
ignorance,  and  that  ignorance  is  the  fault  of  the 
times  in  which  I  live,  of  the  system  that  guides  the 
era  in  which  I  live. 

"I  am  what  the  world  calls  'educated,'  but  the 
world,  the  world  of  men,  knows  better.  It  laughs 
at  me.  It  has  cheated  me  because  I  am  a  woman. 
The  world  of  men  has  fenced  me  in  and  hobbled 
me  with  convention,  with  precedent,  with  fictitious 
sentiment.  If  I  pursue  the  business  of  men  as  they 
themselves  would  pursue  it  I  am  called  an  ungrate- 


"YOU'LL  HAVE  TO  TAKE  YOUR  MEDICINE  LIKE 
A  MAN."— Page  133. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    133 

ful  daughter.  If  I  should  adopt  the  morals  of  men 
I  would  be  called  a  fallen  woman.  If  I  adopted 
the  religion  of  men  I  would  have  no  religion  at  all. 
Turn  what  way  I  will " 

"But  not  every  woman  feels  the  way  you  do, 
my  daughter,"  broke  in  the  Senator. 

"No,  you  are  right,  because  their  spirit  has  been 
crushed  by  generations,  by  centuries  of  forced  sub- 
serviency to  men.  They  tell  us  we  should  be  thank- 
ful that  we  do  not  live  in  China,  where  women  are 
physical  slaves  to  men.  In  our  country  they  are 
forced  to  be  mental  and  social  slaves  to  men.  Is 
one  very  much  worse  than  the  other?" 

"Then,  dear,"  and  her  father's  tone  was  very 
gentle,  "if  you  want  an  equal  chance — want  to  be 
equal  to  a  man — you  must  take  your  medicine  with 
Eandolph,  like  a  man." 

"What  are  you  going  to  do,  sir?"  she  asked, 
afraid. 

"I'm  going  to  spoil  all  your  little  scheme,  dear," 
he  returned,  smiling  sadly.  "I'm  going,  I  fear,  to 
make  you  lose  all  your  money.  I'd  like  to  make 
it  easy  for  you,  but  I  can't.  You've  got  to  take 
your  medicine,  children,  and  when  it's  all  over  back 
there  in  Mississippi  I  shall  be  able,  I  hope,  to  patch 
np  your  broken  lives,  and  together  we  will  work  out 
your  mistakes.  I  can't  think  of  that  now.  The 
honor  of  the  Langdons  calls.  This  is  the  time  for 
the  fight,  and  any  one  who  fights  against  me  must 
take  the  consequences." 

He  walked  over  and  touched  the  bell. 

"Thomas,"  he  said  to  the  servant  who  responded, 
"take  that  letter  at  once  to  Senator  Peabody,  in  the 
library." 

"What  is  it,  sir?"  asked  Kandolph. 


134     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"It's  the  call  to  arms,"  responded  his  father 
grimly. 

Senator  Peabody  read  the  letter  to  which  Haines 
had  signed  Langdon's  name  and  jumped  up  from 
his  chair  in  the  library  in  astonishment.  Without 
a  word  to  the  startled  Stevens  he  rushed  to  con- 
front Langdon. 

"What's  the  meaning  of  this?"  he  shouted  as  he 
burst  in  on  the  junior  Senator  from  Mississippi. 

"Of  what?"  asked  the  Southerner,  with  a  bland- 
ness  that  added  fuel  to  Peabody's  irritation. 

"Don't  trifle  with  me,  sir !"  cried  "the  boss  of  the 
Senate."  "This  letter.  You  sent  it.  Explain  it  I 
I'm  in  no  mood  to  joke." 

Langdon  looked  at  him  calmly. 

"I  think  the  letter  is  quite  plain,  Senator,"  he 
said.  "You  can  read."  Then  he  turned  to  his 
daughter.  "This  discussion  cannot  possibly  interest 
you,  my  dear.  Will  you  go  to  the  drawing-room  to 
receive  our  guests?" 

Carolina  obeyed.  She  seemed  to  be  discovering 
new  qualities  in  this  father  whom  she  had  con- 
sidered to  be  too  old-fashioned  for  his  time. 

"Now,  Senator,  go  ahead,  and,  Randolph,  you 
bring  Stevens." 

"You're  switching  to  Gulf  City?"  demanded  Pea- 
body. 

"I'm  considering  Gulf  City,"  agreed  Langdon. 

Peabody  brought  down  his  fist  on  the  table. 

"It's  too  late  to  consider  anything,  Langdon," 
he  cried.  "We're  committed  to  Altacoola,  and  Alta- 
coola  it  is.  I  don't  care  what  you  heard  of  Gulf 
City.  Now,  I'd  like  to  settle  this  thing  in  a  friendly 
manner,  Langdon.  I  like  always  for  every  member 
of  the  Senate  to  have  his  share  of  the  power  and 
the  patronage.  We've  been  glad  to  put  you  forward 


K  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    135 

in  this  naval  base  matter.  We  appreciate  the 
straightforwardness,  the  honesty  of  your  character. 
You  look  well.  You're  the  kind  of  politician  the 
public  thinks  it  wants  nowadays,  but  you've  been 
in  the  Senate  long  enough  to  know  that  bills  have 
to  pass,  and  you  know  you  can't  get  through  any- 
thing without  my  friends,  and  I  tell  you  now  I'll 
throttle  any  Gulf  City  plan  you  bring  up." 

"Then  if  you  are  as  sure  of  that  you  can't  ob- 
ject to  my  beingvfor  Gulf  City?"  asked  Langdon. 

"Are  you  financially  interested  in  Gulf  City?" 
demanded  Peabody. 

"Senator  Peabody!"  exclaimed  Langdon. 

"Don't  flare  up,  Langdon,"  retorted  Peabody. 
"That  sort  of  thing  has  happened  in  the  Senate. 
There  are  often  perfectly  legitimate  profits  to  be 
made  in  some  regular  commercial  venture  by  a  man 
who  has  inside  information  as  to  what's  doing  up 
on  Capitol  Hill." 

"Senator  Peabody,"  asked  Langdon,  "why  are 
you  so  strong  for  Altacoola?" 

The  Pennsylvanian  hesitated. 

"Its  natural  advantages,"  he  said  at  last 

The  Southerner  shook  his  head. 

"Oh,  that's  all?  Well,  if  natural  advantages  are 
going  to  settle  it,  and  not  influence,  go  ahead  and 
vote,  and  I'll  just  bring  in  a  minority  report  for 
Gulf  City." 

"The  boss  of  the  Senate"  was  in  a  corner  now. 

"Confound  it,  Langdon,  if  you  will  have  it,  I 
am  interested  in  Altacoola." 

Langdon  nodded. 

"That's  all  I  wanted  to  know,"  he  said. 

"Now  you  see  why  it's  got  to  be  Altacoola,"  per- 
sisted the  boss. 

"I  don't  mind   telling  you,  then,  Senator   Pea- 


136    &  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

body,"  answered  Langdon  calmly,  "that  my  being 
for  Gulf  City  was  a  bluff.  I've  been  trying  to  draw 
you  out.  Gulf  City  is  a  mud  bank  and  no  more 
fitted  to  be  a  naval  base  than  Keokuk,  la.  Alta- 
coola  it's  got  to  be,  for  the  good  of  the  country  and 
the  honor  of  Mississippi. 

"And  one  thing  more,  Senator.  I'd  just  like  to 
add  that  not  a  single  man  connected  with  that  com- 
mittee is  going  to  make  a  cent  out  of  the  deal. 
You  get  that  straight?" 


CHAPTER  XXI 

"IF  YOU  CAN'T  BUY  A  SENATOR,  THREATEN  HIM" 

SENATOR  PEABODY  was  the  most  surprised  man  in 
Washington  when  he  heard  the  junior  Senator  from 
Mississippi  state  that  no  one  was  to  enrich  him- 
self out  of  the  government  naval  base  project. 

He  heaped  a  mental  anathema  on  the  head  of 
Stevens  for  saddling  such  a  man  on  the  Senate 
"machine,"  for  Langdon  would  of  course  never  had 
been  put  on  "naval  affairs"  (just  now  very  impor- 
tant to  the  machine)  without  the  "O.  K."  of 
Stevens,  who  had  won  a  heretofore  thoroughly  re- 
liable reputation  as  a  judge  of  men,  or  of  what  pur- 
ported to  be  men.  The  thought  that  at  this  time, 
of  all  times,  there  should  be  a  man  on  the  com- 
mittee on  naval  affairs  that  could  not  be  "handled" 
was  sufficient  to  make  him  who  reveled  in  the  title 
of  "boss  of  the  Senate"  determine  that  he  must  get 
another  chief  lieutenant  to  replace  Stevens,  who 
had  proved  so  trustworthy  in  the  past.  Stevens  had 
lost  his  cunning ! 

As  the  vote  of  Langdon  could  not  be  secured  by 
humbug  or  in  exchange  for  favors  and  as  it  could 
not  be  "delivered,"  Peabody,  of  course,  was  will- 
ing to  pay  in  actual  cash  for  the  vote.  This  was 
the  final  step  but  one  in  political  conspiracies  of 
this  nature — cash.  But  Langdon  wrould  not  take 
cash,  so  Peabody  had  to  resort  to  the  last  agency 
of  the  trained  and  corrupt  manipulator  of  legisla- 
tion, 

187 


138    A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

He  would  threaten. 

Moreover,  he  knew  that  to  make  threats  effect- 
ive, if  it  is  possible  to  do  so,  they  must  be  led  up 
to  systematically — that  is,  they  should  be  made  at 
the  right  time.  The  scene  must  be  set,  as  in  a  play. 

Senator  Peabody  glared  at  Langdon  as  though 
to  convince  the  latter  that  to  stand  in  his  way 
would  mean  political  destruction. 

"So  nobody  is  going  to  make  a  cent,  eh?  Well, 
I  suppose  you  want  all  the  profits  for  yourself." 
Turning  to  Stevens,  who  had  just  entered,  the 
Pennsylvanian  cried: 

"Do  you  but  listen  to  our  suddenly  good  friend 
Langdon.  He  wants  to  be  the  only  man  to  make 
money  out  of  the  naval  base.  He  won't  listen  to 
any  other  member  of  the  naval  committee  making  a 
cent  out  of  it.  Why,  he " 

"Great  God,  sir !"  exclaimed  Langdon.  "You  are 
going  too  far,  Peabody.  You  state  what  is  false,  and 
you  know  it,  you — you " 

"Then  you  are  willing  that  others  should  have 
their  rightful  share?"  put  in  Stevens.  "Oh,  I 
understand  now,  Senator." 

"No,  no,  no !"  cried  Langdon.  "You  do  not  under- 
stand, Senator  Stevens,  and  I  must  say  I  am 
ashamed  to  speak  of  you  by  the  honorable  title  of 
Senator,  sir.  I  will  not  listen  to  any  person  en- 
riching himself  at  the  Government's  expense,  and  I 
am  your  enemy,  you,  Peabody,  and  you.  Stevens, 
beyond  recall.  You  both  know  vou  misrepresent 
me." 

Langdon  walked  over  to  Stevens  and  faced  him. 

"Do  you  remember,  Stevens,  Lorimer  Hawkslee, 
back  in  wartime?" 

"Yes,"  said  Stevens,  puzzled,  "I  remember  him — 
a  very  fine  gentleman." 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    139 

The  old  planter  sneered. 

"Yes,  a  very  fine  gentleman !  You  remember  he 
got  rich  out  of  contracts  for  supplies  furnished  to 
the  Confederate  Government  when  it  wasn't  any 
too  easy  for  the  Confederate  Government  to  pay 
and  when  he  was  in  that  Government  himself.  I 
never  quite  thought  that  the  act  of  a  gentleman, 
Stevens.  It  seemed  to  me  to  be  very  like  dishonesty. 
I  refused  to  speak  to  Lorimer  Hawkslee  in  the  Car- 
roll Hotel  at  Vicksburg,  and  when  the  people  there 
asked  me  why  I  told  them.  I  want  to  warn  you, 
Stevens,  that  I'm  likely  to  meet  you  some  time  in 
the  Carroll  Hotel  at  Vicksburg." 

Stevens  backed  away  angrily.  "I  catch  your  in- 
sinuation, but" — he  received  a  warning  glance  from 
Peabody  and  broke  into  a  pleasant  smile  calculated 
to  deceive  the  old  planter — "this  once  I  will  over- 
look it  because  of  our  old  friendship  and  the  old 
days  in  Mississippi." 

"You  are  a  fine  talker,  Langdon,"  said  Peabody, 
coming  to  Stevens'  rescue,  "but  I  can  readily  see 
what  you  are  driving  at.  You  want  an  investiga- 
tion. You  think  you  will  catch  some  of  us  with 
what  you  reformers  call  'the  goods,'  but  forget  evi- 
dently the  entirely  simple  facts  that  your  family 
has  invested  in  Altacoola  lands  more  heavily  prob- 
ably than  any  one  else  among  us.  You  want  to 
raise  a  scandal,  do  you?  Well,  go  on  and  raise  it, 
but  remember  that  you  will  have  to  explain  how  it 
happened  that  there  is  $50,000  invested  in  the  name 
of  your  son,  and  $25,000  in  the  name  of  your 
daughter,  Miss  Carolina,  not  to  mention  a  few  thou- 
sands put  in  by  the  gentleman  who,  I  am  given  to 
understand,  is  to  be  your  son-in-law,  Congressman 
Norton. 

"How  about  that,  Norton?"  Peabody  asked,  turn- 


140     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

ing  to  the  Congressman,  who  had  followed  Stevens 

"I  corroborate  all  you've  said,"  remarked  Nor- 
ton. "I  can  state  positively  that  Senator  Lang- 
don  knew  that  his  money  was  going  into  Altacoola 
land.  I  will  swear  to  it  if  necessary,"  and  he 
glared  bitterly  at  Carolina's  father,  feeling  certain 
that  the  girl  would  cling  to  him  as  opposed  to  her 
parent. 

Langdon  made  a  threatening  move  at  the  Con- 
gressman. 

"I  consider  my  riddance  of  you  mighty  cheap  at 
the  price,"  he  cried. 

"Come,  come,  Langdon,"  fumed  Peabody,  "I 
must  get  away  from  here  to  catch  the  midnight 
train.  Let's  get  through  with  this  matter.  You 
must  realize  that  you  cannot  fight  me  in  Washing- 
ton. You  must  know  that  men  call  me  the  'king 
of  the  Senate.'  I  can  beat  any  measure  you  intro- 
duce. I  can  pass  any  measure  you  want  passed. 
I  can  make  you  a  laughing-stock  or  a  power. 

"Why,  my  friend  from  Mississippi,  I  can  even 
have  your  election  to  the  Senate  contested,  have  a 
committee  appointed  to  investigate  the  manner  of 
your  election,  have  that  committee  decide  that  you 
bought  your  way  into  the  honorable  body,  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  and  on  the  strength 
of  that  decision  have  you  forfeit  your  seat !  What 
a  pretty  heritage  to  hand  down  to  posterity  such  a 
disgrace  will  be!  Why,  the  very  school  children 
of  the  future  will  hear  about  you  as  'Looter  Lang- 
don,' and  their  parents  will  tell  them  how  particu- 
larly degrading  it  was  for  a  man  of  your  reputa- 
tion to  drag  into  your  dishonest  schemes  your  son, 
sir,  and  your  daughter.  For  who  will  believe  that 
this  money  was  not  put  in  these  lands  without  your 
consent,  without  your  direction,  your  order?  Did 


'A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    141 

you  not  sign  the  mortgage  on  which  this  $50,000 
was  raised?" 

Senator  Langdon  waved  his  hand  deprecatingly. 
"I'm  learning  the  under-handed  ways  of  you  profes- 
sional politicians.  I'm  getting  wise.  I'm  learning 
'the  game,'  so  I  know  you're  bluffing  me,  Peabody. 
But  you  forget  that  the  game  of  poker  was  invented 
in  Mississippi — my  native  State." 

Pressing  a  button,  Langdon  summoned  a  servant 
and  said :  "Send  in  Mr.  Haines.  I  guess  I've  got 
to  have  a  witness  for  my  side." 

"It's  no  bluff,"  spoke  Stevens  as  Haines  entered. 
"Peabody  can  and  will  break  you  like  a  pipestem ; 
he's  done  it  to  other  men  before  you  who — who  tried 
to  dispute  his  power.  But  I'll  try  to  save  you.  I'll 
ask  him  to  be  merciful.  You  are  not  of  any  im- 
portance in  the  Senate.  We  do  not  need  to  deal 
with  you " 

"Then  why  do  you  both  spend  so  much  time  on 
me?"  asked  Langdon  innocently.  "Why  doesn't 
Peabody  go  to  Philadelphia?" 

"Langdon,"  said  Peabody,  "you  know  my  con- 
trol of  the  Senate  is  no  piece  of  fiction.  But  I 
will  forgive  your  obstinacy,  even  forget  it.  I " 

"Look  here,"  cried  Langdon,  "just  because  I'm 
a  fat  man  don't  think  that  I  can't  lose  my  temper." 
He  stopped  and  gazed  at  his  two  colleagues. 

"Now,  you  two  men  stay  still  one  moment,  and 
I'll  tell  you  what  really  will  happen  to-morrow," 
he  exploded,  "and  I'm  only  a  beginner  in  the  game 
that's  your  specialty.  The  naval  base  is  going  to 
Altacoola " 

"Good !"  simultaneously  cried  both  Peabody  and 
Stevens.  "You're  coming  in  with  us?" 

"No,  I'm  not,  but  I'll  pass  the  bill  so  that  no- 
body makes  a  cent,  just  as  I  said  I  would.  I'll 


fool  you  both  and  make  you  both  honest  for  once 
in  spite  of  your  natural  dispositions." 

Stevens  and  the  Pennsylvanian  stared  at  each 
other  in  disgust. 

"Furthermore,"  continued  Langdon,  "Altacoola 
must  have  the  base  because  I've  known  for  some 
time  that  Gulf  City  was  impossible.  But  some 
crooked  Senators  would  have  made  money  if  they'd 
known  it,  so  they  didn't  learn  it.  Altacoola,  that 
proud  arm  of  our  great  gulf,  will  have  those  battle- 
ships floating  on  her  broad  bosom  and  the  country 
will  be  the  better  off,  and  so  will  the  sovereign 
State  of  Mississippi — God  bless  it — but  neither 
Senator  Peabody  of  Pennsylvania  nor  Senator  Ste- 
vens of  Mississippi  is  going  to  be  any  better  because 
of  it.  No,  and  if  you  men  come  to  my  committee 
room  at  12:30  to-morrow  noon  you'll  have  a 
chance  to  hear  how  all  that's  coming  about.  If 
you  are  not  there  by  that  time  I'll  bring  in  a 
minority  report  in  favor  of  Gulf  City,  just  to  show 
you  that  I  know  how  to  play  the  game — this  Wash- 
ington game " 

"Come,  let's  go.  We  can  do  nothing  with  him," 
said  Peabody  to  the  senior  Senator  from  Missis- 
sippi. 

"Well,  Senator,  in  the  name  of  goodness,  what 
are  you  going  to  do?  How  can  you  win  for  Alta- 
coola without  letting  these  grafters  make  money 
out  of  it?"  asked  Haines  in  astonishment  as  the 
other  two  walked  away.  "What  are  you  going  to 
do  at  12:30  to-morrow?" 

Langdon  turned  to  him  and  rolled  his  eyes 
toward  the  ceiling  despairingly. 

"I'm  blamed  if  I  know !"  he  exclaimed. 


bo 
ns 

OH 


CHAPTER  XXII 

1 

LOBBYISTS — AND  ONE  IN  PARTICULAR 

WASHINGTON  has  known  many  lobbyists  in  its 
time,  and  it  keeps  on  knowing  them.  The  strik- 
ing increase  in  legislation  that  aims  to  restrict  un- 
lawful or  improper  practices  in  business,  the 
awakening  of  the  public  conscience,  has  caused  a 
greater  demand  than  ever  for  influence  at  the  na- 
tional capital,  for  these  restrictive  measures  must 
be  either  killed  or  emasculated  to  a  point  of  use- 
lessness  by  that  process  which  is  the  salvation  of 
many  a  corrupt  manipulator,  the  process  of  amend- 
ment. 

Predatory  corporations,  predatory  business  as- 
sociations of  different  sorts  and  predatory  indi- 
viduals have  their  representatives  on  the  field  at 
Washington  to  ward  off  attack  by  any  means  that 
brains  can  devise  or  money  procure  and  to  obtain 
desired  favors  at  a  cost  that  will  leave  a  profitable 
balance  for  the  purchaser.  When  commercial 
tricksters,  believing  in  the  lobbyists'  favorite 
maxim,  "The  People  Forget,"  feel  that  they  have 
outlived  the  latest  reform  movement  and  see  "the 
good  old  days"  returning,  the  professional  politi- 
cians introduce  a  few  reform  measures  themselves, 
most  stringent  measures.  They  push  these  meas- 
ures ahead  until  somebody  pays  up,  then  the  bills 
die.  The  lobbyist  knows  all  about  these  "strike" 
bills,  but  does  not  frown  on  them.  No,  no.  Per- 

143 


144     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

haps  he  helped  draw  up  one  of  these  bills  so  that, 
with  the  aid  of  his  inside  knowledge  of  his  em- 
ployer's business,  the  measure  is  made  to  give  a 
greater  scare  than  might  otherwise  have  resulted. 
The  bigger  the  scare  the  bigger  the  fund  advanced, 
of  course,  for  the  lobbyist  to  handle.  All  this  also 
helps  the  lobbyist  to  secure  and  retain  employment. 

Not  all  the  Washington  lobbyists  are  outside  of 
Congress.  The  Senator  or  Congressman  has  un- 
equaled  facilities  for  oiling  or  blocking  the  course 
of  a  bill.  Sometimes  he  confines  himself  to  the  in- 
terests of  his  own  clients,  whoever  they  may  be. 
But  sometimes  he  notices  a  bill  that  promises  to  be 
a  pretty  good  thing  for  the  client  of  some  other 
member  if  it  passes.  Then  he  begins  to  fight  this 
bill  so  actively  that  he  must  be  "let  in  on  the  deal" 
himself.  This  is  very  annoying  to  the  other  mem- 
ber, but  the  experience  is  worth  something.  He 
has  learned  the  value  of  observing  other  people's 
legislation. 

The  outsiders  (members  of  the  "third  house") 
and  the  insiders  have  a  bond  of  freemasonry  unit- 
ing them;  they  exchange  information  as  to  what 
members  of  both  houses  can  be  "reached,"  how  they 
can  be  "got  to"  (through  whom)  and  how  much 
they  want.  This  information  is  carefully  tabulated, 
and  now  prices  for  passing  or  defeating  legislation 
can  be  quoted  to  interested  parties  just  as  the 
price  of  a  carload  of  pork  can  be  ascertained  at 
a  given  time  and  place.  Perhaps  it  is  this  system 
that  leads  grafting  members  of  short  experience 
to  wonder  how  knowledge  of  their  taking  what  is 
termed  "the  sugar"  got  out  and  became  known  to 
their  associates.  Did  they  not  have  pledge  of  ab- 
solute secrecy?  Yes,  but  the  purchaser  never  in- 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI     145 

tended  to  keep  the  information  from  those  of  his 
kind.  Lobbyists  must  be  honest  with  each  other. 

Not  all  lobbyists  are  men.  The  woman  legis- 
lative agent  has  been  known  to  occupy  an  impor- 
tant position  in  Washington,  and  she  does  yet.  She 
is  hard  to  detect  and  frequently  more  unprincipled 
than  the  men  similarly  engaged,  if  that  is  possible. 

A  woman  with  a  measure  of  social  standing 
would  naturally  prove  the  most  successful  as  a  lob- 
byist in  Washington  because  of  the  opportunities 
her  position  would  afford  her  to  meet  people  of 
prominence.  And  just  such  a  one  was  Mrs.  Cora 
Spangler,  with  whom  the  Langdons  had  been 
thrown  in  contact  quite  intimately  since  their  ar- 
rival at  the  capital. 

Pretty  and  vivacious,  Mrs.  Spangler  bore  her 
thirty-seven  years  with  uncommon  ease,  aided  pos- 
sibly by  the  makeup  box  and  the  modiste.  Hen- 
dinners  and  receptions  were  attended  by  people  of 
acknowledged  standing.  Always  a  lavish  spender 
of  money,  this  was  explained  as  possible  because  of 
a  fortune  left  her  by  her  late  husband,  Congress- 
man Spangler  of  Pennsylvania.  That  this  "for- 
tune" had  consisted  largely  of  stock  and  bonds  of 
a  bankrupt  copper  smelting  plant  in  Michigan  re- 
mained unknown,  except  to  her  husbad's  family^ 
one  or  two  of  her  own  relatives  and  Senator  Pea- 
body,  who,  coming  from  Pennsylvania,  had  known 
her  husband  intimately. 

He  it  was  who  had  suggested  to  her  that  she 
might  make  money  easily  by  cultivating  the  ac- 
quaintance of  the  new  members  of  both  houses  and 
their  families,  exerting  her  influence  in  various 
"perfectly  legitimate  ways,"  he  argued,  for  or 
against  matters  pending  in  legislation.  The  Stan- 
dard Steel  corporation  kept  Mrs.  Spangler  well 


146    A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

supplied  with  funds  deposited  monthly  to  her  ac- 
count in  a  Philadelphia  trust  company. 

She  avoided  suspicion  by  reason  of  her  sex  and 
her  many  acquaintances  of  undisputed  rank.  Sena- 
tor Peabody  was  never  invited  to  her  home,  had 
never  attended  a  single  dinner,  reception  or  musi- 
cale  she  had  given,  all  of  which  was  a  part  of  the 
policy  they  had  mutually  agreed  on  to  deaden  any 
suspicion  that  might  some  time  arise  as  to  her  re- 
lation to  the  Standard  Steel  Company.  It  was  well 
known  that  Peabody  had  been  put  into  the  Senate 
by  Standard  Steel  to  look  after  its  interests. 

He  had  found  Mrs.  Spangler  chiefly  valuable  thus 
far  as  a  source  of  information  regarding  the  mem- 
bers of  Congress,  which  she  obtained  largely  from 
their  families.  He  was  thus  able  to  gain  an  idea  of 
their  associations,  their  particular  interests  and 
their  aspirations  in  coming  to  Congress,  which 
proved  of  much  use  to  him  in  forming  and  promot- 
ing acquaintances,  all  for  the  glory  of  Standard 
Steel. 

Senator  Holcomb  of  Missouri  told  Mrs.  Spangler 
at  an  afternoon  tea  confidentially  that  he  was  going 
to  vote  against  the  ship  subsidy  bill.  Senator  Pea- 
body  was  informed  of  this  two  hours  later  by  a 
note  written  in  cipher.  When  the  vote  was  called 
two  days  later  Senator  Holcomb  voted  for  the  bill. 
Standard  Steel  supplies  steel  for  ocean  liners,  and 
their  building  must  be  encouraged. 

Mrs.  Windsor,  wife  of  Congressman  Windsor  of 
Indiana,  remarked  to  Mrs.  Spangler  at  a  recep- 
tion that  she  was  "so  glad  Jimmie  is  going  to  do 
something  for  us  women  at  last.  He  says  we  ought 
to  get  silk  gowns  ever  so  much  cheaper  next  year." 
Jimmie  Windsor  was  a  member  of  the  House  com- 
mittee on  ways  and  means  and  was  busily  engaged 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    14-7 

in  the  matter  of  tariff  revision.  When  President 
Anders  of  the  Federal  Silk  Company  heard  from 
Senator  Peabody  that  Windsor  favored  lowering 
the  tariff  on  silk  a  way  was  found  to  convince  the 
Congressman  that  the  American  silk  industry  was 
a  weakling,  and  many  investors  would  suffer  if  the 
foreign  goods  should  be  admitted  any  cheaper  than 
at  present. 

President  Anders  would  be  willing  to  do  Sena- 
tor Peabody  a  favor  some  day. 

Sometimes  Cora  Spangler  shuddered  at  the 
thought  of  what  would  become  of  her  if  she  should 
make  some  slip,  some  fatal  error,  and  be  discovered 
to  her  friends  as  a  betrayer  of  confidences  for 
money.  A  secret  agent  of  Standard  Steel !  What 
a  newspaper  story  she  would  make — "Society 
Favorite  a  Paid  Spy";  "Woman  Lobbyist  Flees 
Capital."  The  sensational  headlines  flitted  through 
her  mind.  Then  she  would  grit  her  teeth  and  dig 
her  finger  nails  into  her  palms.  She  had  to  have 
money  to  carry  on  the  life  she  loved  so  well.  She 
must  continue  as  she  had  begun.  After  all,  she 
reasoned,  nothing  definite  could  ever  be  proved  re- 
garding the  past.  Let  the  future  care  for  itself. 
She  might  marry  again  and  free  herself  from  thia 
mode  of  life — who  knows? 

So  reasoned  Cora  Spangler  for  the  hundredth 
time  during  the  last  two  years  as  she  sat  in  her 
boudoir  at  her  home.  She  had  spent  part  of  the 
day  with  Carolina  and  Hope  Langdon  and  in  the 
evening  had  attended  the  musicale  at  their  house. 
But  she  had  been  forced  to  leave  early  owing  to  a 
severe  headache.  Now,  after  an  hour  or  two  of  rest, 
she  felt  better  and  was  about  to  retire.  Suddenly 
the  telephone  bell  rang  at  a  writing-table  near  a 
window.  She  had  two  telephones,  one  in  the  lower 


148     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

hall  and  one  in  her  boudoir — to  save  walking  down- 
stairs unnecessarily,  she  explained  to  her  woman 
friends.  But  the  number  of  this  upstairs  telephone 
was  not  in  the  public  book.  It  had  a  private  num- 
ber, known  to  but  two  people  except  herself. 

Taking  down  the  receiver,  she  asked  in  low  voice, 
"Hello!  Who  is  it?" 

"Mr.  Wall." 

It  was  the  name  Senator  Peabody  used  in  tele- 
phone conversation  with  her. 

"Yes,  Congressman !"  she  responded. 

She  always  said,  "Yes,  Congressman,"  in  reply- 
ing to  "Mr.  Wall,"  a  prearranged  manner  of  in- 
dicating that  he  was  talking  to  the  desired  person. 

"I  will  need  your  services  to-morrow,"  Senator 
Peabody  said,  "on  a  very  important  matter,  I  am 
afraid.  Decline  any  engagements  and  hold  yourself 
in  readiness." 

"Yes." 

"I  may  send  my  friend  S.  to  explain  things  at 
10 :30  in  the  morning.  If  he  does  not  arrive  at  that 
time,  telephone  me  at  10:35  sharp.  You  know 
whera  Understand?  I  have  put  off  going  to  Phila- 
delphia to-night." 

"Yes." 

"That  is  all ;  good-by." 

"Something  very  important,"  she  murmured  nerv- 
ously as  she  turned  from  the  desk. 

"I  don't  like  his  tone  of  voice;  sounds  strained 
and  worried — something  unusual  for  the  cold,  flinty 
gentleman  from  Pennsylvania.  And  his  'friend  S.,' 
of  course,  means  Stevens !  Great  heavens !  then  Ste- 
vens must  now  have  knowledge  of  my — my— 
business !" 

She  calmed  herself  and  straightened  a  dainty, 
slender  finger  against  her  cheek. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    149 

"It  must  be  something  about  that  naval  base 
bill,  I'm  sure.  That's  been  worrying  Peabody  all 
session,"  she  mused  as  she  pressed  a  button  to  sum- 
mon her  maid. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

"THE  BOSS  OF  THE  SENATE"  GAINS  A  NEW  ALLY 

MRS.  SPANGLER  would  have  flattered  herself  on 
guessing  correctly  as  to  Senator  Peabody's  un- 
easiness had  she  heard  and  seen  all  that  had  taken 
place  in  his  apartment  at  the  Louis  Napoleon  Hotel, 
where  he  had  hurriedly  taken  Senator  Stevens  on 
leaving  the  Langdon  house. 

Not  only  would  the  two  Senators  lose  their  im- 
mense profits  on  the  Altacoola  transaction  if  Lang- 
don persisted  in  his  opposition,  but  they  would 
lose  as  well  the  thousands  of  dollars  spent  by  their 
agents  in  purchasing  options  on  hundreds  of  acres, 
and  where  they  could  not  get  options,  the  land 
itself.  This  land  would  be  on  their  hands,  unsala- 
ble, if  the  base  went  somewhere  else.  Moreover, 
they  feared  that  Langdon's  revolt  would  bring  un- 
pleasant newspaper  publicity  to  their  operations. 

"There's  only  one  course  to  pursue,  Stevens," 
snapped  Peabody  as  they  took  off  their  overcoats. 
"That  is  to  be  prepared  as  best  we  can  for  the 
very  worst  and  meet  it  in  some  way  yet  to  be  de- 
termined. But  first  we  must  try  to  figure  out  what 
Langdon  is  going  to  do — what  it  can  be  that  he  says 
he  will  tell  us  to-morrow  at  12:30  if  we  appear. 
He  must  have  something  very  startling  up  his 
sleeve  if  he  makes  good  his  assertions.  I  can't  see 
how " 

"Nor  I,"  frowned  Stevens,  "and  my  political  eye- 

160 


>&  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    151 

sight  is  far  better  than  that  fool  Langdon's.  Un- 
der ordinary  circumstances  we  could  let  him  go 
ahead  with  his  minority  report  for  Gulf  City,  but  as 
things  stand  he'll  have  every  newspaper  reporter  in 
Washington  buzzing  around  and  asking  imperti- 
nent questions " 

"Yes,  and  you  and  I  would  have  to  go  to  Paris 
to  live  with  our  life  insurance  friends  from  New 
York,  wouldn't  we?"  laughed  Peabody  sarcas- 
tically. "I'm  going  to  send  for  Jake  Steinert,"  he 
added. 

"Steinert?"  Stevens  ejaculated.    "What " 

"Oh,  that's  all  right.  Maybe  he  can  suggest  some- 
thing," said  Peabody,  going  to  the  telephone. 
"We've  too  much  at  stake  to  make  a  mistake,  and 
Jake  may  see  a  point  that  we've  overlooked. 
Luckily  I  saw  him  downstairs  in  the  grill-room  as 
we  came  through  to  the  elevator." 

"Steinert  is  all  right  himself,"  continued  Ste- 
vens, "but  his  methods " 

"Can't  be  too  particular  now  about  his  methods 
— or  ours,  Stevens,  when  a  bull  like  Langdon  breaks 
loose  in  the  political  china  shop.  Fortune  and 
reputation  are  both  fragile." 

A  ring  of  a  bell  announced  the  arrival  of  Jake 
Steinert,  whose  reputation  as  a  lobbyist  of  ad- 
vanced ability  had  spread  wide  in  the  twenty  years 
he  had  spent  in  Washington.  Of  medium  height, 
sallow  complexion,  dark  hair  and  dark  eyes,  his 
broad  shoulders  filled  the  doorway  as  he  entered. 
An  illy  kept  mustache  almost  hid  a  thin-lipped, 
forceful  mouth,  almost  as  forceful  as  some  of  the 
language  he  used.  His  eyes  darted  first  to  Peabody 
and  then  to  Stevens,  waiting  for  either  of  them 
to  open  the  conversation. 

The  highest  class  lobbyists,  those  who  "swing" 


the  "biggest  deals,"  concern  themselves  only  with 
men  who  can  "handle"  or  who  control  lawmakers. 
They  get  regular  reports  and  outline  the  campaign. 
Like  crafty  spiders  they  hide  in  the  center  of  a 
great  web,  a  web  of  bribery,  threat,  cajolery  and 
intrigue,  intent  on  every  victim  that  is  lured  into 
the  glistening  meshes. 

Only  the  small  fry  mingle  freely  with  the  legis- 
lators in  the  open,  in  the  hotels  and  cafes  and  in 
the  Capitol  corridors. 

Jake  Steinert  did  not  belong  in  either  of  these 
classes;  he  ranked  somewhere  between  the  biggest 
and  the  smallest.  He  coupled  colossal  boldness 
with  the  most  expert  knowledge  of  all  the  intricate 
workings  of  the  congressional  mechanism.  Given 
money  to  spend  among  members  to  secure  the  de- 
feat of  a  bill,  he  would  frequently  put  most  of  the 
money  in  his  own  pocket  and  for  a  comparatively 
small  sum  defeat  it  by  influencing  the  employees 
through  wrhose  hands  it  must  pass. 

"Sit  down,  Jake.  Something  to  drink?"  asked 
Peabody,  reaching  for  a  decanter. 

"No,"  grunted  the  lobbyist;  "don't  drink  durin' 
business  hours ;  only  durin'  the  day." 

"Well,  Jake,"  said  the  Pennsylvanian,  "you 
probably  know  something  of  what's  going  on  in 
the  naval  affairs  committee." 

"You  mean  the  biggest  job  of  the  session?" 

"Yes." 

"Sure  thing,  Senator.    It's  the  work  of  an  artist." 

"The  boss  of  the  Senate"  smiled  grimly. 

"Now,  suppose  a  committeeman  named  Langdon 
absolutely  refused  to  be  taken  care  of,  and  insisted 
on  handing  in  a  minority  report  to-morrow,  with  a 
speech  that  read  like  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence?" 


Steinert  jerked  his  head  forward  quickly. 

"You  mean  what  would  I  do  if  I  was — er — if  I 
was  runnin'  the  job?" 

"Yes." 

Steinert  leaned  toward  Peabody. 

"Where  do  I  come  in  on  this?"  he  asked,  suspi- 
ciously. 

"Come,  come,  man,"  was  the  irritable  retort.  "I 
never  let  a  few  dollars  stand  between  myself  and  my 
friends." 

"'All  right,  Senator." 

The  lobbyist  thrust  himself  down  in  his  chair, 
puffed  slowly  at  a  cigar,  and  gazed  thoughtfully  at 
the  ceiling. 

"Few  years  ago,"  he  began,  after  a  minute  or  two, 
"there  was  a  feller  who  was  goin'  to  squeal  about  a 
bond  issue.  He  had  his  speech  all  ready  to  warn 
the  country  that  he  thought  a  crowd  of  the  pluto- 
cracy was  goin'  to  get  the  bonds  to  resell  to  the  pub- 
lic at  advanced  rates.  Well,  sir,  I  arranged  to  ha^e 
a  carriage,  a  closed  carriage,  call  that  night  to  take 
him  to  see  the  President,  for  he  was  told  the  Presi- 
dent sent  the  carriage  for  him.  When  he  got  oat  he 
was  at  the  insane  asylum,  an'  I  can  tell  you  he  was 
bundled  into  a  padded  cell  in  jig  time,  where  he 
stayed  for  three  days.  'He  thinks  he's  a  member  of 
Congress/  I  told  the  two  huskies  that  handled  him, 
an'  gave  'em  each  a  twenty-case  note.  The  doctor 
that  signed  the  necessary  papers  got  considerable 
more." 

Stevens'  gasp  of  amazement  caused  the  narrator 
genuine  enjoyment. 

"I  know  of  a  certain  Senator  who  was  drunk  an* 
laid  away  in  a  Turkish  bath  when  the  roll  was 
called  on  a  certain  bill.  He  was  a  friend  of  Pea- 
body's,"  laughed  the  lobbyist  to  the  Mississippian. 


154.    A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"But  in  this  case,"  said  Stevens,  "we  must  be  very 
careful.  Possibly  some  of  your  methods  in  handling 
the  men  you  go  after " 

"Say,"  interposed  Steinert,  "you  know  I  clon't 
do  all  pursuin',  all  the  goin'  after,  any  more  than 
others  in  my  business.  Why,  Senator,  some  of  these 
Congressmen  worry  the  life  out  of  us  folks  that 
sprinkle  the  sugar.  They  accuse  us  of  not  lettin' 
'em  in  on  things  when  they  haven't  been  fed  in  some 
time.  They  come  down  the  trail  like  greyhounds 
coursin'  a  coyote." 

The  speaker  paused  and  glanced  across  at  Pea- 
body,  who,  however,  was  too  busily  engaged  in  writ- 
ing in  a  memorandum  book  to  notice  him, 

"Why,  Senator  Stevens,"  went  on  the  lobbyist, 
"only  to-day  a  Down  East  member  held  me  up  to 
tell  me  that  he  was  strong  for  that  proposition  to 
give  the  A.  K.  and  L.  railroad  grants  of  govern- 
ment timber  land  in  Oregon.  He  says  to  me,  he 
says:  'What'n  h — 1  do  my  constituents  in  New 
England  care  about  things  'way  out  on  the  Pacific 
Coast?  I'd  give  'em  Yellowstone  National  Park  for 
a  freight  sidin'  if  'twas  any  use  to  'em,'  he  says.  So 
you  see " 

"I  must  go/'  broke  in  Stevens,  rising  and  glancing 
at  his  watch.  "It  will  soon  be  daylight." 

"If  you  must  have  sleep,  go ;  but  you  must  be  here 
at  9  o'clock  sharp  in  the  morning,"  said  Peabody. 
"Steinert  will  sleep  here  with  me.  We'll  all  have 
breakfast  together  here  in  my  rooms  and  a  final  con- 
sultation." 

"You  won't  plan  anything  really  desperate,  Pea- 
body,  will  you?  I  think  I'd  rather " 

"Nonsense,  Stevens,  of  course  not.  Our  game 
will  be  to  try  to  weaken  Langdon,  to  prove  to  him 
in  the  morning  that  he  alone  will  suffer,  because 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    155 

our  names  do  not  appear  in  the  land  deals.  The 
options  were  signed  and  the  deeds  signed  by  our 
agents.  Don't  you  see?  Whereas  his  daughter  and 
son  and  future  son-in-law  actually  took  land  in 
their  own  names." 

"How  clumsy !" 

"Yes.  Such  amateurism  lowers  the  dignity  of  the 
United  States  Senate,"  Peabody  answered,  dryly. 

"But  suppose  Langdon  does  not  weaken?"  asked 
Stevens,  anxiously,  as  he  picked  up  his  hat  and  coat. 

"Then  we  will  go  into  action  with  our  gu»s 
loaded,"  was  the  reply. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE  HONEYBIRD 

IN  the  African  jungle  dwells  a  pretty  little  bird 
that  lives  on  honey.  The  saccharine  dainty  is  there 
found  in  the  hollows  of  trees  and  under  the  bark, 
where  what  is  known  as  the  carpenter  bee  bores  and 
deposits  his  extract  from  the  buds  and  blossoms  of 
the  tropical  forest. 

The  bird  is  called  the  "honeybird"  because  it  is 
a  sure  guide  to  the  deposits  of  the  delicacy.  The 
bird  dislikes  the  laborious  task  of  pecking  its  way 
through  the  bark  to  reach  the  honey,  and  so,  wise 
in  the  ways  of  men,  it  procures  help.  It  locates  a 
nest  of  honey,  then  flies  about  until  it  sees  some 
natives  or  hunters,  to  whom  it  shows  itself.  They 
know  the  honeybird  and  know  that  it  will  lead  them 
to  the  treasure  store.  Following  the  bird,  which 
flits  just  in  advance,  they  reach  the  cache  of  drip- 
ping sweetness  and  readily  lay  it  open  with  hatchets 
or  knives.  Taking  what  they  want,  there  is  always 
enough  left  clinging  to  the  tree  and  easily  accessible 
to  satisfy  the  appetite  of  the  clever  little  bird. 

Senator  Stevens  of  Mississippi  bears  a  marked 
resemblance  to  the  honeybird — so  much  so  that  he 
has  well  won  the  bird's  appellation  for  himself.  Ab- 
normally keen  at  locating  possibilities  for  extract- 
ing "honey"  from  the  governmental  affairs  in  Wash- 
ington, he  invariably  led  Peabody,  representing  the 
hunter  with  the  ax,  to  the  repository.  He  would 

156 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI     157 

then  rely  on  the  Pennsylvanian's  superior  force  to 
break  down  the  barriers.  Stevens  would  flutter 
about  and  gather  up  the  leavings. 

Equally  as  mercenary  as  "the  boss  of  the  Senate," 
he  lacked  Peabody's  iron  nerve,  determination,  re- 
sourcefulness and  daring.  He  needed  many  hours 
of  sleep.  Peabody  could  work  twenty  hours  at  a 
stretch.  He  had  to  have  his  meals  regularly  or  else 
suffer  from  indigestion.  Peabody  sometimes  did  a 
day's  work  on  two  boiled  eggs  and  a  cup  of  coffee. 

The  senior  Senator  from  Mississippi  had  been  the 
first  to  point  out  to  Peabody  the  possibilities  for 
profit  in  the  gulf  naval  base  project,  but  the  morn- 
ing following  the  conference  with  Steinert  when  he 
rejoined  them  for  breakfast  at  the  Louis  Napoleon 
he  was  far  from  comfortable.  He  did  not  mind  fight- 
ing brain  against  brain,  even  though  unprincipled 
methods  were  resorted  to,  but  indications  were  that 
more  violent  agencies  would  be  called  into  play 
owing  to  the  complications  that  had  arisen. 

Stevens  ate  heartily  to  strengthen  his  courage. 
Steinert  ate  hugely  to  strengthen  his  body.  Pea- 
body  ate  scarcely  anything  at  all — to  strengthen  his 
brain. 

Waving  away  the  hotel  waiter  who  had  brought 
the  breakfast  to  his  apartment,  Senator  Peabody 
outlined  the  probable  campaign  of  the  day. 

"If  our  best  efforts  to  weaken  and  scare  off  Lang-, 
don  fail  to-day,"  he  said,  "it  will  naturally  developj 
that  we  must  render  it  impossible  in  some  way  for 
him  to  appear  in  the  Senate  at  all,  or  we  must  delay 
his  arrival  until  after  the  report  of  the  committee 
on  naval  affairs  has  been  made.  In  either  event  he 
would  not  have  another  opportunity  to  speak  on 
that  subject. 
*  "Of  course,  later,  at  12 :30,  we  will  know  his  plan 


158    A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

of  action.  Then  we  can  act  to  the  very  point,  but 
we  must  be  prepared  for  any  situation  that  can 
arise." 

"Cannot  the  President  of  the  Senate  be  persuaded 
not  to  recognize  Langdon  on  the  floor?  Then  we 
could  adjourn  and  shut  him  off,"  asked  Sterens. 

"No,"  responded  Peabody ;  "he  has  already  prom- 
ised Langdon  to  recognize  him,  and  the  President  of 
the  Senate  cannot  be  persuaded  to  break  his  word. 
I  am  painfully  aware  of  this  fact." 

But  Stevens  was  not  yet  dissuaded  from  the  hope 
of  defeating  the  junior  Senator  from  Mississippi  by 
wit  alone. 

"Can  we  not  have  a  speaker  get  the  floor  before 
Langdon  and  have  him  talk  for  hours — tire  out  the 
old  kicker — and  await  a  time  when  he  leaves  the 
Senate  chamber  to  eat  or  talk  to  some  visitor  we 
could  have  call  on  him,  then  shove  the  bill  through, 
summarily?"  he  suggested. 

"I've  gone  over  all  that,"  answered  Peabody, 
quickly.  "It  would  only  be  delaying  the  evil  hour. 
You  wouldn't  be  able  to  move  that  old  codger  away 
from  the  Senate  chamber  with  a  team  of  oxen — once 
he  gets  to  his  seat.  His  secretary,  Haines — another 
oversight  of  yours,  Stevens" — the  latter  winced — 
"will  warn  him.  Langdon  would  stick  pins  through, 
his  eyelids  to  keep  from  falling  asleep." 

"I've  been  thinkin',"  put  in  Steinert,  slowly,  "that 
a  little  flne-esse  like  this  might  keep  him  away: 
When  Langdon's  in  his  committee  room  before  goin' 
to  the  Senate  send  him  a  telegram  signed  by  one 
of  his  frien's'  name  that  one  of  his  daughters  is 
dyin'  from  injuries  in  a  automobile  collision  a  few 
miles  out  o'  town.  That  'ud " 

"Ridiculous,"  snorted  Peabody.  "He'd  know 
where  they  were.  They're  always " 


rA  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    159 

"Huh !  then  put  in  more  fine-esse." 

"How?    What?" 

"Hev  some  'un  take  'em  out  a-autoin' " 

"No,  no,  man !"  snapped  Peabody.  "They'd  stick 
in  town  to  hear  their  father's  wonderful  speech." 

"Well,"  went  on  the  lobbyist,  "I'll  hev  Langd'n 
watched  by  a  careful  picked  man,  a  nigger  that 
won't  talk.  He'll  pick  a  row  with  the  Colonel  on 
some  street,  say,  w'en  he's  comin'  from  his  home 
after  lunch.  The  coon  kin  bump  into  Langd'n  an' 
call  him  names.  Then  w'en  ole  fireworks  sails  into 
'im,  yellin'  about  what  'e'd  do  in  Mississippi,  the 
coon  pulls  a  gun  on  the  Colonel  an'  fires  a  couple  o' 
shots  random.  Cops  come  up,  an'  our  pertickeler 
copper'll  lug  Langd'n  away  as  a  witness,  refusin' 
to  believe  'e's  a  Senator.  I  kin  arrange  to  hev  him 
kept  in  the  cooler  a  couple  o'  hours  without  gettin' 
any  word  out,  or  I'll  hev  'im  entered  up  as  drunk 
an'  disorderly.  He'll  look  drunk,  he'll  be  so  mad." 

"But  the  negro — how  could  you  get  a  man  to 
undergo  arrest  on  such  a  serious  charge,  attempted 
murder!"  exclaimed  Stevens. 

"There,  there,"  said  Steinert,  patronizingly; 
"coons  has  more  genteel  home  life  in  jail  than  they 
does  out.  An'  don't  forget  the  District  of  Columbia 
is  governed  by  folks  that  ain't  residents  of  it,  only 
t  durin'  the  session.  Th'  politicians  don't  leave  their 
frien's  in  the  cooler  very  long.  Say,  Senator  Ste- 
vens, are  you  kiddin'  me?  Is  it  any  different  down 
in  your " 

The  Mississippian  choked  and  spluttered  over  a 
gulp  of  unusually  hot  coffee,  and  Peabody  again  de- 
cided Steinert  to  be  on  the  wrong  tack. 

"That  proceeding  would  attract  too  much  atten- 
tion from  the  newspapers,"  he  added. 


160    A  GENTLEMAN  PROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"Well,  I  thought  you  wanted  to  win,"  grunted 
Steinert.  "I've  been  offerin'  you  good  stuff,  too — 
new  stuff.  None  of  yer  druggin'  with  chloroform 
or  ticklin'  with  blackjacks.  Why,  I've  gone  from 
fine-esse  to  common  sense.  But,  come  to  think  of  it, 
how  about  some  woman?  I  c'n  get  one  to  intro- 
duce to " 

"This  is  the  wrong  kind  of  a  man,"  interrupted 
Peabody. 

"Unless  you  got  the  right  kind  of  a  woman,"  went 
on  Steinert. 

Senator  Stevens  choked  some  more. 

"The  boss  of  the  Senate"  sank  down  in  his  chair, 
crossed  one  knee  over  the  other  and  drummed  his 
fingers  lightly  on  the  table.  He  gazed  thoughtfully 
at  Stevens. 

"Yes,"  he  observed,  slowly,  "unless  you've  got  the 
right  sort  of  a  woman." 

Rising,  he  led  the  Mississippian  to  one  side. 

The  lobbyist  heard  the  Southerner  give  a  short 
exclamation  of  astonishment  as  Peabody  whispered 
to  him. 

"It's  all  right.  It's  all  right,"  he  then  heard  the 
Pennsylvanian  say,  irritably.  "She'll  understand. 
She  can  be  trusted.  She  expects  you." 

Stevens  gave  a  violent  start  at  the  last  assurance, 
but  his  colleague  hurriedly  helped  him  into  his 
coat. 

"Go  in  a  closed  carriage,"  was  Peabody's  final 
warning.  "Be  sure  to  tell  her  to  get  hold  of  his  two 
daughters  on  some  pretext  at  once.  She  knows  them 
well.  Maybe  we  can  influence  the  old  man  through 
his  girls,  don't  you  see?" 

And  while  Senator  Peabody  and  Jake  Steinert  re- 
curred to  a  previous  discussion  concerning  one  J.  D. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    161 

Telfer,  Major  of  Gulf  City,  Senator  Stevens  started 
on  the  most  memorable  drive  of  his  career  on  this 
bright  winter  morning,  to  the  house  of  the  fascinat- 
ing Mrs.  Spangler — who  for  the  past  week  had  been 
considering  his  proposal  of  marriage. 


CHAPTER  XXV 
CAROLINA  LANGDON'S  RENUNCIATION 

SENATOR  LANGDON'S  committe  room  at  the  Capitol 
presented  a  busy  scene  at  an  unusually  early  hour 
the  morning  after  the  entertainment  at  his  home. 
Bud  Haines,  reinstated  as  secretary,  was  picking 
up  the  thread  of  routine  where  he  had  dropped  it 
the  day  before,  though  his  frequent  thought  of  Hope 
and  the  words  that  had  thrilled  him — "I  love  you, 
I  love  you  fondly" — made  this  task  unusually  diffi- 
cult. He  impatiently  wished  the  afternoon  to  hasten 
along,  as  he  knew  he  would  then  see  her  in  the  Sen- 
ate gallery,  where  she  would  go  to  hear  her  father's 
speech. 

This  speech  had  to  be  revised  in  some  particulars 
by  Bud,  and  the  work  he  knew  would  take  up  much 
of  the  morning.  The  Senator's  speech  was  "The 
South  of  the  Future,"  which  he  would  deliver  when 
recognized  by  the  President  of  the  Senate  in  con- 
nection with  the  naval  base  bill,  that  officer  having 
agreed  to  recognize  Langdon  at  3 :30,  at  which  time 
the  report  of  the  naval  affairs  committee  would 
be  received.  Just  how  Langdon  would  turn  the 
tables  on  Peabody  and  Stevens  and  yet  win  for  the 
Altacoola  site  not  even  the  ex-newspaper  man,  ex- 
perienced in  politics,  had  solved.  Clearly  the  Sena- 
tor would  have  to  do  some  tall  thinking  during  the 
morning. 

162 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    163 

The  junior  Senator  from  Mississippi  burst  into 
the  office  with  his  habitual  cheery  greeting,  his 
broad-brimmed  black  felt  hat  in  its  usual  position 
on  the  back  of  his  head,  like  a  symbol  of  undying 
defiance. 

"A  busy  day  for  us,  eh,  Senator?"  queried  Bud.    I 

"Now,  look  here,  my  boy,  don't  begin  to  remind 
me  of  work  right  off,"  he  said,  with  a  humorous 
gleam  in  his  eye.  "Go  easy  on  me.  Don't  forget 
I'm  her  father." 

Bud  laughed  through  the  flush  that  rose  in  his 
cheeks. 

"No,  I  won't  forget  that.  But  have  you  decided 
what  to  tell  Peabody  and  Stevens  as  your  plan  of 
action  if  they  come  in  here  at  12 :30?" 

"If  they  come?"  exclaimed  Langdon.  "They'll 
come.  Watch  'em." 

Then  he  hesitated,  worriedly. 

"I'll  have  to  incubate  an  idea  between  now  and 
noon,  somehow.  But  don't  forget  this,  Bud — we're 
worried  about  them,  true  enough,  but  they're  wor- 
ried a  heap  more  about  us." 

Senator  Langdon  stepped  into  an  adjoining  room, 
where  he  could  be  alone,  to  "incubate." 

As  Haines  resumed  his  work  Carolina  Langdon 
entered. 

Avoiding  the  secretary's  direct  gaze,  she  asked  for 
her  father. 

"He  ought  to  be  back  shortly,  Miss  Langdon," 
responded  Haines.  "You  can  wait  here.  I  must 
ask  pardon  for  leaving,  as  I  must  run  over  to  the 
library." 

As  the  secretary  bowed  himself  out  of  the  door 
he  almost  collided  with  Congressman  Norton.  Both 
glared  at  each  other  and  remained  silent. 

"Carolina,"  spoke  Norton,  as  he  entered,  "I  hope 


164    A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

— I  know  you  won't  allow  your  father  to  influence 
you  against  me — because  of  last  night.  I " 

Carolina  would  rather  not  have  met  Charles  Nor- 
ton on  this  morning.  She  had  hardly  slept  for  the 
night.  She  had  fought  a  battle  with  herself.  Her 
father  had  shown  her  plainly  the  mistake  she  had 
made.  She  saw  that  her  influence  had  not  been 
without  effect  on  Eandolph.  Probably  for  the  first 
time  she  realized  that  there  are  glory  and  luxury, 
pleasure  and  prestige  for  which  too  big  a  price  can 
be  paid. 

The  Senator's  daughter  turned  slowly  and  faced 
the  man  she  had  promised  to  marry. 

"Charlie,  I  have  come  to  a  decision.  I  came  here 
to  talk  with  father  about  it." 

Norton  started  toward  Carolina,  a  look  of  appre- 
hension on  his  face.  He  gathered  from  the  trend 
of  her  words  and  her  demeanor  that  she  had  turned 
against  him. 

"You  couldn't  be  so  cruel,  Carolina,"  he  pro- 
tested. 

"Charlie,"  she  went  on,  determinedly,  "I  will  al- 
ways cherish  our  friendship,  our  happy  younger 
days  down  in  Mississippi,  but  I  must  give  up  think- 
ing of  you  as  my  future  husband.  We've  both  made 
a  mistake,  mine  probably  greater  than  yours,  but  I 
now  am  convinced  that  I  should  not  marry  you. 
Your  way  of  thinking  about  life  is  all  wrong,  and 
you  are  too  deeply  entangled  with  the  dishonest  men 
in  Washington  to  draw  back.  I  cannot  love  you." 

"But  I  am  doing  it  all  for  your  sake,  Carolina. 
Don't  let  an  old-fashioned  father  come  between  a 
man  and  a  woman  and  their  love,"  he  cried. 

"Charlie,  I  must  give  you  up." 

The  girl  turned  to  one  side,  as  though  to  give  Nor- 
ton a  chance  to  leave. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    165 

He  looked  at  her  in  silence  for  a  moment  or  two. 
Then  a  change  came  into  his  bearing.  Wrinkling 
his  face  into  a  sneer,  he  stepped  before  the  girl. 

"You've  been  converted  mighty  sudden,  I  reckon, 
from  land  speculating  to  preaching — and  preach- 
ing, too,  against  folks  who  tried  to  make  a  fortune 
for  you." 

Norton  stopped,  expecting  a  reply,  but  the  girl  re- 
mained silent. 

"You  think  I'm  done  for,  that  I've  lost  my  money ; 
that's  why  you  turned  from  me  so  quickly,"  he 
laughed,  scornfully.  "But  I'll  show  you,  you  and 
your  blundering  old  father.  I'll  win  you  yet,  and 
I'll  ruin  your  father's  political  reputation.  I'll " 

"Are  you  qite  sure  about  that?"  spoke  a  voice, 
sharply,  behind  the  Congressman.  He  swung  around 
vigorously.  Bud  Haines  had  returned  in  time  to 
hear  Norton's  threat. 

"Yes ;  and  while  I'm  doing  that  I'll  take  time  to 
show  you  up,  too,  somehow.  I  guess  a  Congress- 
man's word  will  count  against  that  of  a  cheap  sec- 
retary— that's  what  Miss  Langdon  said  you  were." 

Carolina  looked  appealingly  to  Haines  to  rid  her 
of  the  presence  of  this  man,  whose  last  words  she 
knew  Haines  would  not  believe. 

But  Norton  had  had  his  say.  He  retreated  to  the 
door. 

"Miss  Langdon,"  he  cried,  as  he  backed  out  and 
away,  "you  have  an  idea  that  I  am  dishonest,  but 
kindly  remember  that,  whatever  you  think  I  am,  I 
never  was  a  hypocrite." 

Haines  advanced  and  procured  a  chair  for  Miss 
Langdon. 

"I'm  very  sorry  to  have  come  back  at  such  a 
time,"  he  began. 

The  girl  cut  him  short  with  a  gesture. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"I  want  to  say  to  you,"  she  said,  then  halted — 
"that  I  want  to  be  friends  with  you.  I  want  you 
to  forget  the  happenings  of  yesterday — last  evening 
— so  far  as  I  was  concerned  in  them.  I  want  to  work 
together  with  you  and  father — and  so  does  Ran- 
dolph. Father  and  you  are  standing  together  to 
uphold  the  honor  of  the  Langdons  of  Mississippi, 
and  Randolph  and  I,  no  matter  the  cost  of  our  for- 
mer folly,  want  to  share  in  that  work." 

Before  Haines  couJd  reply  Senator  Langdon  burst 
into  the  room. 

"Bud !  Bud !"  he  cried,  "I've  got  it !  I've  got  it !" 

"You've  got  what,  Senator?"  exclaimed  the  sec- 
retary. 

"That  idea,  my  boy,  that  idea!  It's  incubated  all 
right,  and  Peabody  and  Stevens  can  come  just  as 
soon  as  they  want  to." 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

THE  BATTLES  OF  WASHINGTON 

AT  twenty  minutes  after  12  Senator  Langdon  and 
Secretary  Haines  were  still  undisturbed  by  any 
move  on  the  part  of  Peabody  and  Stevens,  who 
maintained  a  silence  that  to  Haines  was  distinctly 
ominous.  His  experience  at  the  Capitol  had  taught 
him  that  when  the  Senate  machine  was  quiet  it  was 
time  for  some  one  to  get  out  from  under. 

Miss  Williams,  the  naval  committee's  stenog- 
rapher, entered. 

"Senator  Langdon,"  she  said,  "Senator  Peabody 
and  Senator  Stevens  are  in  committee  room  6,  and 

they  told  me  to  tell  you  that  they'd  be I  can't 

say  it.  Please,  sir,  I " 

"D — d,"  interpolated  Langdon,  laughing. 

"Yes,  sir,  that's  it.  They'll  be— that— if  they 
come  in  here  at  12:30.  You  must  come  to  them, 
they  say." 

"Tell  the  gentlemen  I'm  sitting  here  with  my  hat 
on  the  back  of  my  head,  smoking  a  good  see-gar, 
with  nails  driven  through  both  shoes  into  the  floor 
— and  looking  at  the  clock." 

At  12 :25  Senator  Stevens  entered. 

"I  came  to  warn  you,  Langdon,"  he  said,  "that 
Senator  Peabody's  patience  is  nearly  exhausted. 
You  must  come  to  see  him  at  once  if  you  expect  the 
South  to  get  a  naval  base  at  Altacoola  or  anywhere 

167 


168     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

else.  If  you  do  not  agree  to  take  his  advice  this 
naval  bill  and  any  other  that  you  are  interested  in 
now  or  in  future  will  be  trampled  underfoot  in  the 
Senate.  Mississippi  will  have  no  use  for  a  Senator 
who  cannot  produce  results  in  Washington,  and 
that  will  prove  the  bitterest  lesson  you  have  ever 
learned." 

"I'm  waiting  for  Peabody  here,  Stevens." 

"Oh,  ridiculous!  Of  course  he's  not  coming. 
Why,  Langdon,  he's  the  king  of  the  Senate.  He 
has  the  biggest  men  of  the  country  at  his  call. 
He's " 

"He's  got  one  minute  left,"  observed  Langdon, 
looking  at  the  clock,  "but  he'll  come.  I  trust  Pea- 
body  more  than  the  best  clock  made  at  a  time  like 
this,  when " 

The  figure  of  the  senior  Senator  from  Pennsyl- 
vania appeared  in  the  doorway. 

"Good-day,  Senator  Langdon,"  he  remarked,  icily. 

"Same  to  you.  Have  a  see-gar,  Senator?"  said 
Langdon.  He  turned  and  winked  significantly  at 
Haines. 

The  three  Senators  seated  themselves. 

"I  suppose  you  wouldn't  consider  yourself  so  im- 
portant, Langdon,  if  you  knew  that  we  now  find 
we  can  get  another  member  of  the  naval  affairs 
committee  over  to  our  side  for  Altacoola?"  began 
Peabody.  "That  gives  us  a  majority  of  the  com- 
mittee without  your  vote." 

"That  wouldn't  prevent  me  from  making  a  mi- 
nority report  for  Gulf  City  and  explaining  why  I 
made  that  report,  would  it?"  the  Mississippian 
asked,  blandly. 

Peabody  and  Stevens  both  knew  that  it  wouldn't. 
Stevens  exchanged  glances  with  "the  boss  of  the 
Senate,"  and  in  low  voice  began  making  to  Lang- 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    169 

don  a  proposition  to  which  Peabody's  assent  had 
been  gained. 

"Langdon,  we  would  like  to  be  alone,"  and  he 
nodded  toward  Haines. 

"Sorry  can't  oblige,  Senator,"  Langdon  replied. 
"Bud  and  I  together  make  up  the  Senator  from  Mis- 
sissippi." 

"All  right.  What  I  want  to  say  is  this :  The  Pres- 
ident is  appointing  a  commission  to  investigate  the 
condition  of  the  unemployed.  The  members  are  to 
go  to  Europe,  five  or  six  countries,  and  look  into 
conditions  there,  leisurely,  of  course,  so  as  to  formu- 
late a  piece  of  legislation  that  will  solve  the  exist- 
ing problems  in  this  country.  A  most  generous  ex- 
pense account  will  be  allowed  by  the  Government. 
A  member  can  take  his  family.  A  son,  for  instance, 
could  act  as  financial  secretary  under  liberal  pay." 

"I've  heard  of  that  commission,"  said  Langdon. 

"Well,  Senator  Peabody  has  the  naming  of  two 
Senators  who  will  go  on  that  commission,  and  I  sug- 
gested that  your  character  and  ability  would  make 
you " 

"Good  glory!"  exclaimed  Langdon.  "You  mean 
that  my  character  and  ability  would  make  me  some- 
thing or  other  if  I  kept  my  mouth  shut  in  the  Sen- 
ate this  afternoon !  Stevens,  I've  been  surprised  so 
many  times  since  I  came  to  the  capital  that  it 
doesn't  affect  me  any  more.  I'm  just  amused  at 
your  offer  or  Senator  Peabody's. 

"I  want  to  tell  you  two  Senators  that  there's  only 
one  thing  that  I  want  in  Washington — and  you 
haven't  offered  it  to  me  yet.  When  you  do  I'll  do 
business  with  you." 

"What's  that?  Speak  out,  man !"  said  Peabody, 
quickly. 


170     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"A  square  deal  for  the  people  of  the  United 
States." 

"Good  Lord !"  exclaimed  "the  boss  of  the  Senate.'* 
"Is  this  Washington  or  is  it  heaven?" 

"It  is  not  heaven,  Senator,"  put  in  Haines. 

"Man  alive!"  cried  Peabody,  "I've  been  in  Wash- 
ington so  long  that " 

"So  long  that  you've  forgotten  that  the  American 
people  really  exist,"  retorted  Langdon ;  "and  there 
are  more  like  you  in  the  Senate,  all  because  the 
voters  have  no  chance  to  choose  their  own  Senators. 
The  public  in  most  States  have  to  take  the  kind  of  a 
Senator  that  the  Legislature,  made  up  mostly  of 
politicians,  feels  likennaking  them  take.  You,  Pea- 
body,  wouldn't  be  in  the  Senate  to-day  if  the  voters 
had  anything  to  say  about  it" 

The  Pennsylvanian  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"And  now  I'll  tell  you  honorable  Senators,"  went 
on  Langdon,  thoroughly  aroused,  "something  to  sur- 
prise you.  I  have  discovered  that  you  were  not 
working  for  yourselves  alone  in  the  Altacoola  deal, 
but  that  you  intend  to  turn  your  land  over  to  the 
Standard  Steel  Company  at  a  big  profit  as  soon  as 
this  naval  base  bill  is  passed.  Then  that  company 
will  squeeze  the  Government  for  the  best  part  of  the 
hundred  millions  that  are  to  be  spent." 

The  Senator  sank  back  in  his  chair  and  gazed  at 
his  two  opponents. 

Those  two  statesmen  jumped  to  their  feet. 

"Come,  Stevens,  let  him  do  what  he  will.  We 
cannot  stay  here  to  be  insulted  by  the  ravings  of  a 
madman,"  cried  the  Pennsylvanian.  But  he 
brought  his  associate  to  a  standstill  midway  to  the 
door.  "By  the  way,  Langdon,  what  is  it  you  are 
going  to  do  in  the  Senate  this  afternoon?"  he  asked. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    171 

"You  said  you  were  going  to  make  us  honest  against 
our  will.  You  know  you  can't  do  anything." 

Bud  Haines  turned  his  face  toward  the  speaker 
and  grinned  broadly,  to  the  Senator's  intense  dis- 
comfort. 

"I'll  do  more  than  that,"  announced  Langdon,  ris- 
ing and  pounding  a  fist  into  his  open  hand.  "I'll 
make  you  and  Stevens  more  popular  than  you  ever 
were  in  your  lives  before." 

"Bah !"  shouted  Peabody. 

"I'll  do  even  more  yet.  I'm  going  to  make  you 
generous — patriots.  And,  I  regret  to  say,  I'll  give 
you  the  chance  to  make  the  hits  of  your  careers." 

The  polished  hypocrites  looked  at  him,  too  aston- 
ished to  move. 

"How?    What?"  they  gasped. 

Swept  on  by  his  own  enthusiasm  and  the  force  of 
his  own  courageous  honesty,  the  voice  of  the  South- 
erner rose  to  oratorical  height. 

"This  afternoon,"  he  exclaimed,  "when  the  naval 
base  committee  makes  its  report,  I  will  rise  in  my 
place  and  declare  that  for  once  in  the  histpry  of  the 
Senate  men  have  been  found  who  place  the  interests 
of  the  Government  they  serve  above  any  chance  o€ 
pecuniary  reward.  These  men  are  the  members  of 
the  naval  base  committee. 

"With  this  idea  in  view,  realizing  that  dishonest 
men  would  try  to  make  money  out  of  the  Govern- 
ment, these  members  of  the  naval  base  committee, 
after  they  settled  on  Altacoola,  went  out  quietly 
and  secured  control  of  all  the  land  that  will  be 
needed  for  the  naval  base,  and  these  men  secured 
this  at  a  very  nominal  figure.  Now-  they  are  ready 
to  turn  over  their  land  to  the  Government  at  exact- 
ly what  they  paid  for  it,  without  a  cent  of  profit. 

"Then  they're  going  to  sit  up  over  there  in  that 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

Senate.  They're  going  to  realize  that  a  new  kind 
of  politics  has  arrived  in  Washington — the  kind 
that  I  and  lots  of  others  always  thought  there  was 
here. 

"And,  gentlemen" — he  advanced  on  his  colleagues 
triumphantly — "when  I,  Senator  Langdon  of  Mis- 
sissippi, your  creation  in  politics,  have  finished  that 
speech,  I  dare  one  of  you  to  get  up  and  deny  a 
word !" 

"The  boss  of  the  Senate"  and  his  satellite  were 
dumfounded.  Firmly  believing  that  Langdon 
could  find  no  way  to  pass  the  bill  for  Altacoola  and 
yet  spoil  their  crooked  scheme,  they  were  totally  un- 
prepared for  any  such  denoument.  To  think  that 
a  simple,  old-fashioned  planter  from  the  cotton 
fields  of  Mississippi  could  originate  such  a  plan 
to  outwit  the  two  ablest  political  tricksters  in  the 
Senate ! 

Langdon  eyed  his  colleagues  triumphantly. 

Peabody,  however,  was  thinking  quickly.  He  was 
never  beaten  until  the  last  vote  was  counted  on  a 
roll  call.  He  knew  that,  no  matter  how  apparently 
insurmountable  an  opposition  was,  a  way  to  over- 
come it  might  often  be  found  by  the  man  who  exer- 
cises strong  self-control  and  a  trained  brain.  This 
corrupt  victor  in  scores  of  bitter  political  engage- 
ments on  the  battlefield  of  Washington  was  now  in 
his  most  dangerous  mood.  He  would  marshal  all 
his  forces.  The  man  to  defeat  him  now  must  de- 
feat the  entire  Senate  machine  and  the  allies  it 
could  gain  in  an  emergency ;  he  must  overcome  the 
power  of  Standard  Steel ;  he  must  fight  the  resource- 
ful brain  of  the  masterful  Peabody  himself. 

Peabody  whispered  to  Stevens,  "We  must  pre- 
tend to  be  beaten." 


be 

O! 
OH 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    173 

Then  the  Pennsylvanian  advanced,  smiling,  to 
Langdon  and  held  out  his  hand. 

"Senator  Langdon,"  he  said,  "I'm  beaten.  You've 
beaten  the  leader  of  the  Senate,  something  difficult 
to  believe.  What's  more,  you've  given  me  the  chance 
of  a  lifetime  to  become  known  as  a  public  bene- 
factor. As  soon  as  you've  finished  your  speech  in 
the  Senate  I  will  get  up  and  make  another  one — to 
second  yours.  Here's  my  hand.  Anything  you  may 
ever  want  out  of  Peabody  in  the  future  shall  be 
yours  for  the  asking." 

Langdon  refused  to  grasp  the  proffered  hand. 

Senator  Stevens  made  a  show  of  protesting 
against  his  superior's  seeming  surrender. 

"But,"  he  objected,  "look  here " 

Peabody  turned  upon  him  instantly. 

"Oh,  shut  up,  Stevens;  don't  be  a  fool.  Come  on 
in.  The  water's  fine." 

The  pair  of  schemers,  with  Norton  at  their  heels, 
turned  away. 

The  Pennsylvanian  drew  Stevens  into  committee 
room  6  and,  ordering  the  stenographer  to  leave, 
drew  up  chairs  where  both  could  sit,  facing  the 
door. 

"We've  thrown  dust  in  that  old  gander's  eyes," 
whispered  Peabody.  "It's  now  ten  after  1.  He  is 
to  be  recognized  to  make  his  speech  at  3 :30.  That 
gives  us  two  hours  and  twenty  minutes " 

"Yes,  but  for  what?"  asked  Stevens,  excitedly. 
"I've  been  trying  myself  to  think  of  something. 
What  will  you  do — what  can  you  do?" 

"The  boss  of  the  Senate"  smiled  patronizingly  on 
the  senior  Senator  from  Mississippi,  as  though 
amused  and  scornful  of  his  limitations  as  a  strate- 
gist, as  a  tenacious  fighter.  Then  his  jaw  set  hard, 
and  his  brows  contracted. 


174    A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"I  will  not  do  anything.  I  cannot  do  anything" 
— he  hesitated  a  full  ten  seconds — "but  Jake  Stein- 
ert  can." 

Stevens'  hands  twitched  nervously. 

"And,"  continued  Peabody,  "I'm  expecting  a 
'phone  call  from  hint  any  moment.  I  told  him  this 
morning  that  he  might  be  able  to  make  f  1,000  be- 
fore night  if " 

The  telephone  bell  at  the  desk  interrupted  him. 

Peabody  leaned  over  and  eagerly  clutched  the  re- 
ceiver. 

The  senior  Senator  from  Mississippi  jerked  him- 
self to  his  feet.  He  stood  at  a  window  and  looked 
out  over  the  roof  tops  of  the  city. 


CHAPTER   XXVII 

MRS.  SPANGLER  GIVES  A  LUNCHEON 

WHEN  Senators  Peabody  and  Stevens  had  gone 
Langdon  and  Bud  went  over  the  situation  together 
and  concluded  that  their  opponents  had  no  means 
of  defeating  Langdon's  program — that,  after  all, 
Peabody  might  really  have  meant  his  words  of  sur- 
render. 

"But  they  might  try  foul  play.  Better  stay  right 
here  in  the  Capitol  the  rest  of  the  day,"  suggested 
Bud. 

Langdon  scoffed  at  the  idea. 

Haines  bustled  away  to  get  a  few  mouthfuls  of 
lunch  to  fortify  himself  for  a  busy  afternoon — one 
that  was  going  to  be  far  busier  than  he  imagined. 

The  telephone  bell  rang  at  the  Senator's  desk.  It 
was  Mrs.  Spangler's  voice  that  spoke. 

"Senator  Langdon,"  she  said,  "Carolina  and 
Hope  Georgia  are  here  at  my  home  for  luncheon, 
and  we  all  want  you  to  join  us." 

"Sorry  I  cannot  accept,"  answered  the  Missis- 
sippian,  "but  I  am  to  make  an  important  speech  this 
afternoon " 

"Oh,  yes,  I  know.  The  girls  and  I  are  coming  to 
hear  it.  But  you  have  two  hours'  time,  and  if  you 
come  we  can  all  go  over  to  the  Senate  together. 
Now,  Senator,  humor  us  a  little.  Don't  disappoint 
the  girls  and  me.  We  can  all  drive  over  to  the  Cap- 
itol in  my  carriage." 

175 


176     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

The  planter  hesitated,  then  replied :  "All  right. 
I'll  be  over,  but  it  mustn't  be  a  very  long  luncheon." 

"Gone  to  eat;  back  by  3  o'clock,"  he  scratched 
quickly  on  a  pad  on  the  secretary's  desk,  and  de- 
parted. 

Mrs.  Spangler's  luncheons  were  equally  as  popu- 
lar in  Washington  as  Senator  Langdon's  dinners. 
The  Mississippian  and  his  daughters  enjoyed  the 
delicacies  spread  lavishly  before  them. 

Time  passed  quickly.  The  old  planter  enjoyed 
seeing  his  daughters  have  so  happy  a  time,  and  he 
was  not  insensible  to  the  charm  of  his  hostess'  con- 
versation, for  Mrs.  Spangler  had  studied  carefully 
the  art  of  ingratiating  herself  with1  her  guests. 

Suddenly  realizing  that  he  had  probably  reached 
the  limit  of  the  time  he  could  spare,  the  Senator 
drew  out  his  watch. 

"What  a  stunning  fob  you  wear,"  quickly  spoke 
Mrs.  Spangler,  reaching  out  her  hand  and  taking 
the  watch  from  her  guest's  hands  as  the  case 
snapped  open. 

"Oh,  that's  Carolina's  doings,"  laughed  Langdon. 
"She  said  the  old  gold  chain  that  my  grandfather 
left  me  was " 

"Why,  how  lovely,"  murmured  Mrs.  Spangler, 
glancing  at  the  watch.  "We  have  plenty  of  time 
yet.  Won't  have  to  hurry.  Your  time  is  the  same 
as  mine,"  she  added,  nodding  her  head  toward  a 
French  renaissance  clock  on  the  black  marble  man- 
tel. 

As  the  hostess  did  this  she  deftly  turned  back  the 
hands  of  the  Senator's  watch  thirty-five  minutes. 

"Do  you  care  to  smoke,  Senator,"  Mrs.  Spangler 
asked,  as  her  guests  concluded  their  repast,  "if  the 
young  ladies  do  not  object?" 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI     177 

Langdon  inclined  his  head  gratefully,  and 
laughed. 

"They  wouldn't  be  Southern  girls,  I  reckon,  if 
they  didn't  want  to  see  a  man  have  everything  to 
make  him  happy — er,  I  beg  pardon,  Mrs.  Spangler, 
I  mean,  comfortable.  Nobody  that's  your  guest 
could  be  unhappy." 

The  hostess  beamed  on  the  chivalrous  Southerner. 

Langdon  drew  forth  a  thick  black  perfecto  and 
settled  back  luxuriously  in  his  chair,  after  another 
glance  at  Mrs.  Spangler's  clock.  He  was  absorbed 
in  a  mental  resume  of  his  forthcoming  speech  and 
did  not  hear  the  next  words  of  the  woman,  ad- 
dressed pointedly  to  his  daughters. 

"Do  you  know,  really,  why  this  luncheon  was 
given  to-day?"  she  queried.  Then  she  continued 
before  Carolina  and  Hope  Georgia  could  formulate 
replies : 

"Because  your  father  and  I  wanted  to  take  this 
opportunity  to  announce  to  you — our  engagement." 

The  speaker  smiled  her  sweetest  smile. 

The  two  girls  gazed  at  each  other  in  uncontrolla- 
ble amazement,  then  at  Mrs.  Spangler,  then  at  their 
father,  who  had  turned  partly  away  from  the  table 
and  was  gazing  abstractedly  at  the  ceiling. 

Hope  Georgia  was  the  first  to  regain  her  voice. 

"Oh,  Mrs.  Spangler,"  she  ejaculated,  "you  are 
very  kind  to  marry  father,  but " 

"What's  that?"  exclaimed  the  Senator,  roused 
from  his  thoughts  by  his  youngest  daughter's  words 
and  thrusting  himself  forward. 

Mrs.  Spangler  laid  her  hand  on  his  arm. 

"Oh,  Senator,  I  have  just  told  the  dear  girls  that 
you  had  asked  me  to  marry  you — that  we  were  soon 
to  be  married,"  she  said,  archly,  looking  him 


178    A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

straight  in  the  eye.  She  clasped  her  hands  and  mur- 
mured :  "I  am  so  happy !" 

The  hero  of  Crawfordsville  tried  to  speak,  but  he 
could  not.  He  stared  at  his  hostess,  who  smiled 
the  smile  of  the  budding  debutante.  His  own  open- 
mouthed  astonishment  was  reflected  in  the  faces  of 
Carolina  and  Hope  Georgia  as  they  observed  their 
father's  expression.  He  forgot  he  was  in  Washing- 
ton. He  did  not  know  he  was  a  Senator.  The  fact 
that  he  had  ever  even  thought  of  making  a  speech 
was  furthest  from  his  mind. 

What  did  it  all  mean?  Had  Mrs.  Spangler  gone 
suddenly  insane?  His  daughters — what  did  they 
think?  These  thoughts  surged  through  his  flustered 
brain.  Then  it  flashed  over  him — she  was  joking  in 
some  new  fashionable  way.  He  turned  toward  the 
fair  widow  to  laugh,  but  her  face  was  losing  its 
smile.  A  pained  expression,  a  suggestion  of  intense 
suffering,  appeared  in  her  face. 

"Why  do  you  so  hestitate,  Senator  Langdon?" 
she  finally  asked  in  low  voice,  just  loud  enough  for 
the  two  girls  to  overhear. 

The  junior  Senator  from  Mississippi  looked  at 
his  hostess.  She  had  entertained  him  and  had  done 
much  for  his  daughters  in  Washington.  She  was 
alone  in  the  world — a  widow.  He  felt  that  he  could 
not  shame  her  before  Carolina  and  Hope  Georgia. 
His  Southern  chivalry  would  not  permit  that. 
Then,  too,  she  was  a  most  charming  person,  and  the 
thought, "Why  not — why  not  take  her  at  her  word?" 
crept  into  his  mind. 

"Yes,  father,  why  do  you  hesitate?"  asked  Caro- 
lina, 

Senator  Langdon  mustered  his  voice  into  service 
at  last. 

"I've  been  thinking,"  he  said,  slowly,  "that " 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    179 

"That  your  daughters  did  not  know,"  interrupted 
Mrs.  Spangler,  "of  our " 

"The  telephone — upstairs — is  ringing,  madam," 
said  a  maid  who  had  entered  to  Mrs.  Spangler. 

The  adventuress  could  not  leave  the  Senator  and 
his  daughters  alone,  though  she  knew  it  must  be 
Peabody  calling  her.  At  any  moment  he  might  re- 
member his  speech  and  leave.  Already  late,  he 
would  still  be  later,  though,  because  he  would  have 
no  carriage — hers  would  purposely  be  delayed. 

"Tell  the  person  speaking  that  you  are  empow- 
ered to  bring  me  any  message — that  I  cannot  leave 
the  dining-hall,"  she  said  to  the  maid. 

To  gain  time  and  to  hold  the  Senator's  attention, 
Mrs.  Spangler  asked,  slowly : 

"Well,  Senator,  what  was  it  that  you  were  going 
to  say  Avhen  I  interrupted  you  a  few  moments  ago?" 

Langdon  had  been  racking  his  brain  for  some  in- 
spiration that  would  enable  him  to  save  the  feelings 
of  his  hostess,  and  yet  indicate  his  position  clearly. 
He  would  not  commit  himself  in  any  way.  He 
would  jump  up  and  pronounce  her  an  impostor 
first. 

After  a  moment  of  silence  his  clouded  face 
cleared. 

"Mrs.  Spangler,"  he  began,  "your  announcement 
to-day  I  have  considered  to  be " 

"Premature,"  she  suggested. 

The  maid  returned. 

"Mr.  Wall  says  Senator  Langdon  is  wanted  at 
once  at  the  Capitol." 

"Great  heavens!"  exclaimed  Langdon,  springing 
to  his  feet  and  glancing  at  the  clock.  "I'm  late !  I'm 
late !  I  hope  to  God  I'm  not  too  late !" 

"Mr.  Wall  says  a  carriage  is  coming  for  Senator 
Langdoc,"  concluded  the  maid. 


180    A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"We  must  talk  this  matter  over  some  other  time, 
Mrs.  Spangler,"  the  Mississippian  cried,  as  he  sent 
a  servant  for  his  hat  and  coat  "I  hope  that  car- 
riage hurries,  else  I'll  try  it  on  the  run  for  the 
Capitol!" 

"It's  a  half  hour  away  on  foot,"  said  Mrs.  Spang- 
ler. "Better  wait  You'll  save  time." 

But  to  herself  she  muttered,  as  though  mystified : 

"I  wonder  why  Peabody  changed  his  mind  so  sud- 
denly? Why  should  he  now  want  the  old  fool  at 
the  Capitol?" 

The  rumble  of  wheels  was  heard  outside. 

"Hurry,  father !"  cried  Hope  Georgia. 

The  Senator  hurried  down  the  stone  steps  of  Mrs. 
Spangler's  residence  as  rapidly  as  his  weight  and 
the  excitement  under  which  he  labored  would  per- 
mit. Opening  the  coach  door,  he  plunged  inside — 
to  come  face  to  face  with  Bud  Haines,  who  had  hud- 
dled down  in  a  corner  to  avoid  observance  from  the 
Spangler  windows.  The  driver  started  his  horses 
off  on  a  run. 

Struggling  to  regain  his  breath,  the  Senator 
cried: 

"Well,  what  are " 

"Never  mind  now.  But  first  gather  in  all  I  say, 
Senator,  as  we've  no  time  to  lose.  When  I  couldn't 
locate  you  and  I  saw  you  probably  wouldn't  be  at 
the  Senate  chamber  in  time  to  make  your  speech 
on  the  naval  base  bill,  I  persuaded  Senator  Mil- 
bank  of  Arkansas  to  rise  and  make  a  speech  on  the 
currency  question,  which  subject  was  in  order.  He 
was  under  obligation  to  me  for  some  important  in- 
formation I  once  obtained  for  him,  and  he  consented 
to  keep  the  floor  until  you  arrived,  though  he  knew 
he  would  earn  the  vengeance  of  Peabody.  That 
was  over  an  hour  and  a  half  ago.  He  must  be  read- 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI     181 

ing  quotations  from  'Pilgrim's  Progress'  to  the  Sen- 
ate by  now  to  keep  the  floor." 

Bud  paused  to  look  at  his  watch. 

The  Senator  stretched  his  head  out  of  the  window 
and  cried :  "Drive  faster !" 

"Got  your  speech  all  right?"  called  Bud  above 
the  din  of  the  rattling  wheels. 

"Yes,  here,"  was  the  response,  the  Senator  tap- 
ping his  inner  breast  pocket. 

"Thought  maybe  she "  cried  Bud,  jerking  his 

head  back  in  the  direction  from  which  they  had 
come. 

The  Mississippian  shook  his  head  negatively,  and 
set  his  jaws  determinedly. 

The  coach  swung  up  to  the  Capitol  entrance. 

"Tell  me,"  asked  Langdon,  as  both  jumped  out, 
"how  did  you  find  out  that " 

"I  'phoned  the  house — gave  a  name  Peabody 
uses " 

"Great  heavens !  but  how  did  you  know  where  to 
'phone?" 

They  were  at  the  door  of  the  Senate  chamber. 

"Norton  gave  me  the  tip — for  your  sake  and  Caro- 
lina's— for  old  times'  sake,  he  said,"  was  Bud's  re- 


CHAPTER   XXVIII 

ON  THE  FLOOR  OF  THE  SENATE 

Too  MUCH  occupied  in  concentrating  his  thoughts 
on  his  speech,  Langdon  failed  to  notice  the  con- 
sternation on  the  faces  of  Peabody  and  Stevens  as 
he  walked  to  his  seat  in  the  Senate.  They  had  failed 
to  succeed  in  getting  Milbank  to  conclude,  and  con- 
sequently could  not  push  the  naval  base  report 
through.  But  they  noted  the  passing  of  over  an 
hour  after  their  opponent's  appointed  time  and  had 
felt  certain  that  he  would  not  appear  at  all. 

"The  boss  of  the  Senate"  leaned  across  to  Stevens 
and  whispered,  hurriedly: 

"We  must  tear  him  to  pieces  now — discredit  him 
publicly.  It's  his  own  fault.  Our  agents  can  sell 
the  land  to  Standard  Steel.  Our  connection  with 
the  scheme  will  be  impossible  to  discover — after  we 
have  made  the  public  believe  Langdon  is  a  crook." 

"But  how  about  our  supposed  combination  to  pro- 
tect the  Government  that  Langdon  will  tell  about?'' 
asked  Stevens.  "We  can't  deny  that,  of  course." 

"No,"  answered  Peabody.  "We  can't  deny  it,  but 
we  will  not  affirm  it.  We  will  tell  interviewers  that 
we  prefer  not  to  talk  about  it." 

"It's  our  only  chance."  replied  Stevens,  cau- 
tiously. 

"Yes ;  and  we  owe  it  all  to  Jake  Steinert,"  went 
on  Peabody.  "That  fellow  Telfer  will  do  anything 
to  please  Jake.  Jake  has  convinced  Telfer  that 

188 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI     183 

Langdon  was  responsible  for  the  defeat  of  Gulf 
City,  and  the  Mayor  is  wild  for  revenge." 

"The  boss  of  the  Senate"  rose  and  walked  to  the 
rear  of  the  Senate  chamber  to  issue  orders  to  two 
of  his  colleagues. 

"Report  of  the  committee  on  naval  affairs," 
droned  the  clerk,  mechanically.  "House  Bill  No. 

1,109  is  amended  to  read  as  follows "   And  his 

voice  sank  to  an  unintelligible  mumble,  for  every 
Senator  present  he  well  knew  was  aware  that  the 
amendment  named  Altacoola  as  the  naval  base  site. 

Senator  Langdon  rose  in  his  seat. 

"Mr.  President,"  he  called. 

"Chair  recognizes  the  gentleman  from  Missis- 
sippi," said  the  presiding  officer,  as  he  leaned  back 
to  speak  to  Senator  Winans  of  Kansas,  who  had  ap- 
proached to  the  side  of  the  rostrum. 

The  Langdon  speech  on  "The  New  South  and  the 
South  of  the  Future"  proved  more  than  a  document 
suited  only  to  a  reverent  burial  in  the  Congressional 
Record.  Although  wearied  at  the  start  owing  to  the 
exciting  happenings  of  the  day,  the  Mississippian's 
enthusiasm  for  his  cause  gave  him  strength  and 
stimulation  as  he  progressed.  His  voice  rose  ma- 
jestically as  he  came  to  the  particular  points  he 
wished  to  accentuate,  and  even  those  in  the  upper- 
most rows  in  the  galleries  could  hear  every  word. 

At  the  close  of  his  formal  speech  he  began  on  hiB 
statement  of  the  action  of  the  naval  affairs  commit- 
tee in  buying  control  of  the  Altacoola  land  to  foil 
attempts  to  rob  the  Government.  As  he  had  pre- 
dicted, the  Senate  did  "sit  up."  The  Senate  did 
agree  that  a  new  kind  of  politics  had  arrived. 

During  this  latter  part  of  the  speech  many 
curious  glances  were  directed  at  Peabody  and  Ste- 
yens,  who  sat  in  the  same  tier  of  seats,  in  the  mid- 


184    A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

die  of  the  chamber,  only  an  aisle  separating  them. 
Through  this  choice  of  seats  they  could  confer  with- 
out leaving  their  places.  Various  senatorial  asso- 
ciates of  these  two  men  in  other  deals  found  it  diffi- 
cult to  believe  their  ears — but  was  not  old  Langdon 
at  this  moment  narrating  the  amazing  transaction 
on  the  floor  of  the  Senate?  Would  the  statue  on  the 
pedestal  step  down?  Would  the  sphinx  of  the  desert 
speak  the  story  of  the  lost  centuries?  Would  honor 
take  the  place  of  expediency  in  the  affairs  of  state? 
What  might  not  happen,  thought  the  Senate  ma- 
chine, now  that  Peabody  and  Stevens  had  taken  to 
their  bosoms  what  they  termed  the  purple  pup  of 
political  purity? 

Neither  did  the  full  portent  of  the  situation  es- 
cape the  attention  of  the  reporters'  gallery.  Dick 
Cullen  observed  to  Hansel  of  the  Record: 

"Virtue's  getting  so  thick  around  here  it's  a  men- 
ace to  navigation." 

"Blocking  the  traffic,  eh?"  queried  Hansel;  and 
both  laughed. 

"Hello!  What's  this?"  exclaimed  Cullen  a  few- 
minutes  later.  "Horton  has  been  recognized,  when 
the  program  was  to  adjourn  when  the  naval  base 
bill  was  over  with." 

Langdon's  speech  had  proved  the  hit,  the  sensa- 
tion of  the  session.  After  he  concluded,  amid  re- 
sounding applause,  in  which  Senators  joined,  as 
well  as  occupants  of  the  galleries,  Senator  Horton 
of  Montana  rose  and  caught  the  presiding  officer's 
eye. 

"I  ask  unanimous  consent  to  offer  a  resolution." 

Hearing  no  objection,  he  continued,  in  a  manner 
that  instantly  attracted  unusual  attention : 

"It  is  my  unpleasant  duty" — Peabody  and  Ste- 
vens exchanged  glanees-^"to  place  a  matter  before 


A~GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    18SI1 

this  body  that  to  me,  as  a  member  of  this  honorable 
body,  is  not  only  distasteful,  but  deeply  to  be  re- 
gretted. 

"There  has  arisen  ground  to  suspect  a  member  of 
this  body  with  having  endeavored  to  make  money  at 
the  Government's  expense  out  of  land  which  he  is 
alleged  to  have  desired  his  own  committee  to  choose 
as  the  naval  base. 

"I  therefore  offer  this  resolution  providing  for 
the  appointment  of  an  investigating  committee  to 
look  into  these  charges." 

Langdon  was  intensely  excited  over  this  new  de- 
velopment. "Some  one  has  learned  something  about 
Peabody  or  Stevens,"  he  muttered.  He  feared  that 
this  new  complication  might  in  some  way  affect  the 
fate  of  the  naval  base — that  the  South,  and  Missis- 
sippi, might  lose  it.  He  rose  slowly  in  his  seat, 
while  the  Senate  hummed  with  the  murmur  of  sup- 
pressed voices. 

"I  ask  for  more  definite  information^"  he  began, 
when  recognized  and  after  the  President  of  the  Sen- 
ate had  pounded  with  the  gavel  to  restore  quiet,  "so 
that  this  house  can  consider  this  important  matter 
more  intelligently." 

Senator  Horton  rose.    He  said : 

"I  will  take  the  liberty  of  adding  that  the  Senator 
accused  is  none  other  than  the  junior  Senator  from 
Mississippi." 

Langdon's  eyes  blazed.  He  strode  swiftly  into  the 
aisle. 

"Mr.  President,"  he  cried,  passionately,  "I  know 
this  is  not  the  time  or  place  for  a  discussion  like 
this,  but  ask  that  senatorial  courtesy  permit  me  to 
ask" — then  he  concluded  strongly  before  he  could  be 
stopped — "what  is  the  evidence  in  support  of  this 
preposterous  charge?" 


186     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

"This  is  all  out  of  order,"  said  the  presiding  offi- 
cer, after  a  pause,  "but  in  view  of  the  circumstances 
I  will  entertain  a  motion  to  suspend  the  rules." 

This  motion  passing,  Horton  replied  to  Langdon : 

"Your  name  is  signed  to  a  contract  with  J.  D. 
Telfer,  Mayor  of  Gulf  City,  Miss.,  calling  for  3.000 
shares  in  the  Gulf  City  Land  Company,  and " 

"A  lie!  a  lie!"  screamed  Langdon. 

"That  official,"  went  on  Horton,  coolly,  "is  now  in 
Washington.  He  has  the  contract  and  will  swear  to 
conversations  with  you  and  your  secretary.  His 
testimony  will  be  corroborated  by  no  less  a  person- 
age than  Congressman  Norton,  of  your  own  district, 
who  says  you  asked  him  to  conduct  part  of  the  nego- 
tiations. 

"And  I  might  add,"  cried  Horton,  "that  it  is 
known  to  more  than  one  member  of  this  honorable 
body  that  you  had  drawn  up  a  minority  report  in 
favor  of  Gulf  City  because  of  your  anger  at  the  de- 
feat of  your  plan  to  lake  the  naval  base  away  from 
Altacoola." 

Langdon  sank  into  his  chair,  bewildered,  even 
stunned.  There  was  a  conspiracy  against  him,  but 
how  could  he  prove  it?  The  ground  seemed  crum- 
bling from  under  him — not  even  a  straw  to  grasp. 
Then  the  old  fighting  blood  that  carried  him  along 
in  Beauregard's  van  tugged  at  the  valves  of  his 
heart,  revived  his  spirit,  ran  through  his  veins.  He 
leaped  to  his  feet. 

A  sound  as  of  a  scuffle — a  body  falling  heavily — 
drew  all  eyes  from  Langdon  to  the  rear  of  the  main 
aisle.  An  assistant  sergeant-at-arms  was  lying  face 
downward  on  the  carpet.  Another  was  vainly  try- 
ing to  hold  Bud  Haines,  who,  tearing  himself  free, 
rushed  down  to  his  chief,  waving  a  sheet  of  paper 
in  the  Senator's  eyes. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI     187 

"Read  that!"  gasped  the  secretary,  breathlessly, 
and  he  hurried  away  up  a  side  passageway  and  out 
to  rtach  the  stairs  leading  to  the  press  gallery. 

Lacgdon  spread  the  paper  before  him  with  diffi- 
culty vith  his  trembling  hands.  Slowly  his  whirl- 
ing brain  gave  him  the  ability  to  read.  Slowly  what 
appeared  to  him  as  a  jumbled  nothing  resolved  into 
orderly  lines  and  words.  He  read  and  again  stood 
before  the  Senate,  which  had  regained  its  usual 
composure  after  the  fallen  sergeant-at-anns  had  re- 
gained his  feet  and  rubbed  his  bruises. 

"I  do  not  think  there  will  be  any  investigation," 
he  said,  with  decided  effort,  struggling  to  down  the 
emotion  that  choked  him.  "I  ask  this  house  to  listen 
to  the  following  letter : 

"DEAR  SENATOR  LANGDON  :  When  you  receive  this 
letter  I  shall  be  well  on  my  way  to  take  a  steamer 
for  Cuba.  I  write  to  ask  you  not  to  think  too  harsh- 
ly of  me,  for  I  will  always  cherish  thoughts  of  the 
friendship  you  have  shown  me. 

"Peabody  and  Stevens  have  finally  proved  too 
much  for  me.  When  they  got  old  Telfer  to  swear  to 
a  forged  contract  and  wanted  me  to  forge  your  name 
in  the  land  records  at  Gulf  City,  I  threw  up  my 
hands.  Their  game  will  always  go  on,  I  suppose, 
but  you  gave  them  a  shock  when  you  broke  up  their 
Altacoola  graft  scheme.  And  I'm  glad  you  did. 
They  cast  me  aside  to-day,  probably  thinking  they 
could  get  me  again  if  they  needed  me. 

"I  am  going  on  the  sugar  plantation  of  a  friend, 
where  I  can  make  a  new  start  and  forget  that  I  ever 
went  to  Washington." 

Langdon  paused  deliberately.  The  Senate  was 
hushed.  The  galleries  were  stifled.  Not  even  the 


188     A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI 

rustle  of  a  sheet  of  paper  was  heard  in  the  reporters* 
gallery.  The  Mississippi  an  gazed  around  the  Sen- 
ate chamber.  He  saw  Stevens  and  Peabody  craning 
their  necks  across  the  aisle  and  talking  excitedly 
to  each  other. 

Then  he  stepped  forward  and  spoke,  waving  the 
paper  in  the  air. 

"This  letter  is  signed  'Charles  Norton.' " 

The  old  Southerner  gazed  triumphantly  at  the 
men  who  had  sought  to  destroy  him.  It  was  with 
difficulty  that  the  presiding  officer  could  hammer 
down  the  burst  of  handclapping  that  arose  from  the 
galleries. 

Senator  Horton,  however,  was  not  satisfied  with 
Langdon's  sudden  ascendency. 

"How  do  we  know  that  that  letter  is  not  a  for- 
gery, a  trick?"  he  exclaimed. 

"Go  get  Congressman  Norton — if  you  can — and 
get  his  denial,"  responded  Langdon. 

The  junior  Senator  from  Mississippi  hurriedly 
pushed  his  way  out  of  the  Senate  chamber.  His 
day's  work  was  done. 

Down  on  a  broad  plantation  along  the  Pearl 
River  an  old  planter,  who  has  borne  his  years  well, 
as  life  goes  nowadays,  passes  his  days  contentedly. 
He  delights  in  the  rompings  of  his  grandchildren 
as  they  rouse  the  echoes  of  the  mansion  and  prides 
himself  on  the  achievements  of  their  father,  Ran- 
dolph, who  has  improved  the  plantation  to  a  point 
never  reached  before. 

Sometimes  he  receives  a  letter  from  his  daughter, 
Hope  Georgia,  now  Mrs.  Haines,  telling  him  of  her 
happy  life,  or  perhaps  it  is  a  letter  from  Carolina^ 
describing  the  good  times  she  is  having  in  London 
with  the  friends  she  is  visiting. 


A  GENTLEMAN  FROM  MISSISSIPPI    189 

And  the  old  planter  goes  out  on  the  broad  ve- 
randa in  the  warm  Southern  twilight,  and  he  thinks 
of  the  days  that  were.  He  remembers  how  the  Third 
Mississippi  won  the  day  at  Crawfordsville.  He 
thinks  of  the  days  when  he  fought  the  good  fight  in 
Washington.  His  thoughts  turn  to  the  memory  of 
her  who  went  before  these  many  years  and  whom 
he  is  soon  to  see  again,  and  peace  descends  on  the 
soul  of  the  gentleman  from  Mississippi  as  the  worlr* 
drops  to  slumber  around  him. 


tE  END. 


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'Way  Down  East 

A  novel  founded  upon  the  play  of  the  same  name  by 
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THE   DEVIL 

A  novel  founded  upon  the  successful  and  much  discussed  play  of  the  same 
name  as  produced  by  Henry  W.  Savage. 

By   FERENC    MOLNAR 


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thinking  materialized. 

The  scene  centers  in  Vienna,  and  deals  with  the  early  love  of 
a  poor  artist  and  a  poorer  maiden.  As  the  years  go  by  the  artist 
achieves  distinction,  and  the  maiden  becomes  the  wife  of  a  mill- 
ionaire merchant  —  with  very  little  romance  in  his  composition,  but 
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friend  of  the  family)  is  commissioned  to  paint  the  wife's  portrait  — 
and  the  old  love  reasserts  itself.  For  a  while  the  issue  is  prob- 
lematical; but  stability  of  character  conquers,  and  the  ending  is 
quite  as  the  heart  would  wish. 


J.    S.    OGILVIE    PUBLISHING    COMPANY 
57  Rose  Street,  New  YorK 


The  Seven  Who  Were  Hanged 

By  LEONID  ANDREYEV. 

Translated  Prom  the  Russian  by  HERflAN  BERNSTEIN. 

Handsomely  bound  in  cloth  with  gold  stamping  and  colored 
cover  inlay.  Frontispiece  of  the  author.   Price,  $1.00,  postpaid. 


WHAT  THE  CRITICS  SAY  OF  IT. 

"Andreyev  is  greater  than  Poe — greater  for  his  truth,  if 
not  for  his  art.  Such  an  exploration  of  the  dark  depths  and  far 
perspectives  of  the  soul  in  the  grip  of  terror ;  such  analysis  of  the 
obscure  sudden  transformations  of  that  terror  into  an  ecstasy  in- 
distinguishable from  joy;  such  swift  meltings  of  majesty  of  spirit 
into  most  abject  surrender  to  the  mere  physical  revulsion  from 
death,  I  cannot  remember  in  the  range  of  all  my  reading  .... 
Andreyev  makes  you  realize  in  a  poignant  fashion  a  new,  deeper 
meaning  of  brotherhood." — St.  Louis  Mirror. 

"'The  Seven  Who  Were  Hanged'  is  not  a  mere  morbid 
probing  into  the  abnormal  and  horrible.  It  is  a  grim  and  ter- 
rible picture  and  it  is  painted  with  tremendous  art — the  art  of  a 
Dore." — Chicago  Inter-Ocean. 

"It  is  a  wonderful  picture  of  human  character  and  human 
beauty  and  human  life.  Indeed,  it  has,  however,  like  all  real  art, 
a  social  message.  For  anything  that  makes  us  more  sensitive  to 
human  beauty,  and  therefore  more  widely  sympathetic,  has  a 
social  bearing.  It  is  only  by  the  extension  of  love  that  society  can 
be  improved,  and  Andreyev's  book,  like  all  things  of  beauty,  is 
calculated  to  increase  the  total  of  human  love  in  the  world  .... 
A  beautiful  and  a  terrible  book,  the  result  of  a  passion  for  human- 
ity and  of  simple,  strong  art — a  swift,  passionate  picture  of  human 
life  and  character ;  through  it  we  realize  more  keenly  the  beauty  of 
mankind  and  at  the  same  time  the  tragedy  of  life. " —  The  Bookman. 

"  The  story  has  a  poignancy,  a  power  that  grips  and  holds  and 
leaves  one  with  an  ineffaceable  impression  of  having  looked  upon 
human  souls  in  their  supremest  moments.  It  is  like  a  superb  etch- 
ing in  which  every  stroke  tells.  '  The  Seven  Who  Were  Hanged ' 
belongs  in  the  class  of  masterly  stories." — Brooklyn  Daily  Times. 


You  can  buy   this   at   any   bookstore   or   direct  from  us. 
Price,  $1.00,  postpaid. 

J.  5.  OGILVIE  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

57  Rose  Street,  New  York 


OGILVIE'S    POPULAR    COPYRIGHT    LINE 

THE  NEW  MAYOR 

A    Novel 
Founded  upon  GEORGE  BRO ADHURST'S  play 

The  Man  of  the  Hour 

Handsomely  bound  in  cloth  and  stamped  in  colon,  containing  250  page*, 
with  twelve  illustrations  from  the  play 

Price  50  cents,  net*  postage  10  cents  additional 

It  has  been  issued  under  the  title  of  THE  NEW   MAYOR, 

in  order  not  to  conflict  with  a  book  published  under  the  title, 
The  Man  of  the  Hour. 

Thousands  of  people  have  not  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  the 
play,  and  to  them,  as  well  as  to  those  who  have  seen  it,  we  desire  to 
announce  that  we  are  the  authorized  publishers  of  the  Story  of 
George  Broadhurst's  Play  in  book  form.  There  is  already  an  enor- 
mous demand  for  this  book,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  play  is  meet- 
ing with  such  a  tremendous  success,  having  been  presented  in  New 
York  for  over  six  hundred  consecutive  performances,  with  four 
companies  on  tour  throughout  the  United  States. 

The  play  has  received  the  highest  praise  and  commendation 
from  critics  and  the  press,  a  few  of  which  we  give  herewith: 

"  THE  FINEST  PLAY  I  EVER  SAW/'-Ex-President  Roosevelt. 

"The  best  in  years."— N.  Y.  Telegram.        "A  perfect  success."— ^V.  Y.  SUM. 
"A  triumph."— N.  Y.  American.  "Best  play  yet."— TV.  Y.  Commercial. 

"A  sensation." — N.  Y.  Herald.  "An  apt  appeal." — A'.  Y.  Globe. 

"A  straight  hit."— N.  Y.  World.  "A  play  worth  while."—  N.  Y.  News. 

"Means  something." — N.  Y.  Tribune.          "An  object  lesson." — N.  Y.  Post. 

This  novel  is  a  strong  story  of  politics,  love,  and  graft,  and  appeals 
powerfully  to  every  true  American. 

SENT  BY  MAIL,  POSTAGE  PAID,  FOR  60  CENTS. 
Be  sure  to  get  the  book  founded  on  the  play. 
You  can  buy  this  at  any  bookstore  or  direct  from  us. 


J.    S.     OGILVIE     PUBLISHING     COMPANY 
57  Rose  Street,  New  York 


A     000128293     8 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


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